Use of Cannabinoids in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Summary

This is a 10-week, randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial to investigate the effect of Cannabis Based Medicine Extract (Sativex) on patterns of brain activation associated with movement in 20 MS patients suffering from lower limb spasticity. Spasticity is a common symptom in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), occurring all over the course of the disease, particularly in the progressive phase.Physiologically, spasticity and hyperreflexia habitually seen in patients with pyramidal syndrome is due to lesions of other descending pathways, such as the cortico reticulospinal pathways, which participate in voluntary movements.It is now known that an endocannabinoid system acts in humans by at least two types of cannabinoids receptors, CB1 and CB2. There is evidence to support the view that the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC), and cannabinoids in general, can reduce muscle spasticity in people with MS. Aim of the study will be to evaluate the effect of Sativex on: (i) patterns of brain activation associated with movement (fMRI) in MS patients suffering from spasticity; (ii) changes in level of spasticity (H-reflex); (iii) changes in intracortical excitability and on synaptic intracortical network of the motor areas (double shock TMS).

Timeline

Start

2005-07

Primary completion

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Completion

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Publications

• Background Pertwee RG. Cannabinoid receptor ligands: clinical and neuropharmacological considerations, relevant to future drug discovery and development. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2000 Jul;9(7):1553-71. doi: 10.1517/13543784.9.7.1553.
• Background Smith PF. Cannabinoids in the treatment of pain and spasticity in multiple sclerosis. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2002 Jun;3(6):859-64.
• Background Zajicek J, Fox P, Sanders H, Wright D, Vickery J, Nunn A, Thompson A; UK MS Research Group. Cannabinoids for treatment of spasticity and other symptoms related to multiple sclerosis (CAMS study): multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2003 Nov 8;362(9395):1517-26. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14738-1.
• Background Baker D, Pryce G, Croxford JL, Brown P, Pertwee RG, Huffman JW, Layward L. Cannabinoids control spasticity and tremor in a multiple sclerosis model. Nature. 2000 Mar 2;404(6773):84-7. doi: 10.1038/35003583.
• Background Wade DT, Robson P, House H, Makela P, Aram J. A preliminary controlled study to determine whether whole-plant cannabis extracts can improve intractable neurogenic symptoms. Clin Rehabil. 2003 Feb;17(1):21-9. doi: 10.1191/0269215503cr581oa.
• Background Wade DT, Makela P, Robson P, House H, Bateman C. Do cannabis-based medicinal extracts have general or specific effects on symptoms in multiple sclerosis? A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study on 160 patients. Mult Scler. 2004 Aug;10(4):434-41. doi: 10.1191/1352458504ms1082oa.
• Background Vaney C, Heinzel-Gutenbrunner M, Jobin P, Tschopp F, Gattlen B, Hagen U, Schnelle M, Reif M. Efficacy, safety and tolerability of an orally administered cannabis extract in the treatment of spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Mult Scler. 2004 Aug;10(4):417-24. doi: 10.1191/1352458504ms1048oa.

Drugs

Indications