Tissue Collection for Understanding Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Back Pain

Study Purpose

The purpose of the research is to collect and examine spinal disc and ligament tissues to see if there are any biological markers that can be correlated with MRI images to help us learn more about causes of back pain. Spinal discs are the pillow-like cushions between the bones of the spine. They act as shock-absorbers for the spine. Spinal ligaments support the disc structure during movement.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

Yes
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Observational
Eligible Ages 18 Years and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 18 years of age or older. 2. Patients requiring surgery in lumbar spine region (L1-L2 to L5-S1) 3. Potential procedures: Spinal stenosis, discectomy, laminectomy, lumbar fusion, disc herniation.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients requiring revision surgery in lumbar spine. 2. Patients who have had a discography procedure performed at the same disc level as the one being operated on. 3. Known inflammatory conditions- Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteomyelitis, Discitis, Gout, Ankylosing spondylitis, and other infections. 4. Oncologic conditions- any history of cancer of any type.

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT01633034
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Northwell Health
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Mitchell Levine, MD
Principal Investigator Affiliation Northwell Health
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other
Overall Status Recruiting
Countries United States
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Back Pain
Study Website: View Trial Website
Additional Details

Degenerative disc disease is the most prevalent indication for spine surgery and the major source of back pain in afflicted patients. Age related degeneration of the intervertebral discs is not the exception, but the rule. Degenerative changes are associated with weakening of the disc and hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum in the spine. The aim of this study is to determine if there are any local or systemic biomarkers that correlate with the severity of degeneration as indicated by radiological examination. To date, Imaging (XRay, MRI, CT scans) are the most widely used diagnostic tools for identifying degenerated discs. Physical changes in the disc are also associated with increased secretion and expression of inflammatory mediators in the tissue. The investigators are interested in measuring both gene and protein level changes of inflammatory mediators in degenerated discs in order to correlate these levels with imaging based indicators of degeneration. Protein level changes in the disc and ligamentum flavum have yet to be correlated with MRI-derived disc modic changes classification system. The investigators hypothesize that as the image characteristics of advancing degenerative disease increase, a corresponding change will be present in the secretion (or expression) of specific markers related to inflammatory processes in the disc. Cytokines found to be upregulated in disc tissue or ligamentum flavum will also be measured in patient's serum levels to begin developing a systemic diagnostic method for detecting disc degeneration.

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York

Status

Recruiting

Address

North Shore University Hospital

Manhasset, New York, 11030

Site Contact

Mitchell Levine, MD

[email protected]

516-773-7737

Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan, New York

Status

Recruiting

Address

Lenox Hill Hospital

Manhattan, New York, 10021

Site Contact

Mitchell Levine

[email protected]

212-434-3900