Acuff studies new muscle relaxant for spinal cord spasticity
Michael Acuff, MD, a physician specializing in medicine and rehabilitation at University of Missouri Health Care, is enrolling patients in a clinical trial to investigate a new medication, tolperisone, for treating muscle spasticity.
Tolperisone is a muscle relaxant that has been used in Europe, Asia and South America for more than 40 years collectively to treat the symptoms of spasticity of the muscles surrounding the spinal cord after an injury to that area.
“We need new medications to treat patients with spasticity, given the number of people who cannot tolerate existing medications,” said Acuff. “The goal of the study is to show tolperisone to be safe and tolerable for patients, as well as provide adequate symptom relief.”
Nearly 200,000 Americans are living with spinal cord injuries. A spinal cord injury occurs when damage to the spinal cord results in a change of normal function, such as mobility or feeling. Spinal cord injury can be complete, where the body loses all function below the injury, or incomplete, in which case some function remains, although impaired.
After an individual has sustained a spinal cord injury, the normal reflexive activity of the muscles surrounding the damaged area can become spastic, which is an involuntary movement or jerking of the muscles. This occurs because the spinal cord has certain normal automatic functions that are under the influence of the brain. These functions include muscle tone and reflexes. Most spinal cord injured persons have a healthy, intact spinal cord below the immediate area of their injury, and these automatic activities can continue to exist. However, the automatic reflexes are no longer under the regulating influence of the brain due to the injury and can become exaggerated and uncontrollable.
“More than half of those living with spinal cord injury experience spasticity,” said Acuff. “Spasticity results in tight, stiff muscles that make movement difficult or uncontrollable. It can also create rapid, repeated muscle spasms. These cause pain and contribute to a variety of ailments, including sleep disorders, pressure sores, and others. Some researchers believe that spasticity may even impair a patient’s potential for recovery.”
The study is being conducted at the Howard A. Rusk Rehabilitation Center and at least eight other sites across the United States. Males and females between the ages of 18 and 70 who have had a spinal cord injury for six months or more will be eligible to participate. Women who participate must not be pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Researchers will further assess interested parties to determine eligibility.
Each participant will be randomly assigned to receive the investigational drug or a placebo. Physicians will not know which group patients are assigned during the course of the study. Participants will receive a small stipend for their time and travel expenses.
Acuff is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and in spinal cord injury medicine. He practices at the Howard A. Rusk Rehabilitation Center, 315 Business Loop 70W, Columbia, Mo.
For more information about enrolling in the study, please call toll-free 1-866-924-4695 or visit .
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