ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT03811808

Multiple System Atrophy Multidisciplinary Clinic

Record copied from ClinicalTrials.gov: Oct 10, 2026AI summaries generated: Sep 7, 2026

Multiple System Atrophy Multidisciplinary Clinic

StatusRecruitingThe study is currently enrolling participants. Only the study team can say whether a particular person can join.
Study typeObservationalA study in which researchers do not assign participants to a treatment or other intervention. They observe or measure what happens, which may include study visits, tests, questionnaires or a review of medical records.
Age18 years old and older
SexAll
LocationUnited States
AI summaryWhat this study is about, in plain languageShow ▾Hide ▴

AI-written from the registry record, not the study's own wording. May contain errors or omissions. Check the registry text on this page and the original record ↗ before acting on it.

This observational study collects regular patient and caregiver questionnaires to describe disease burden in Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). It examines the effect of multidisciplinary clinic care on patients' quality of life and on caregiver burden. Participants attend the clinic every four months and may be followed for up to five years.

What it is studying. Whether and how multidisciplinary clinic care and disease progression relate to patients' quality of life and to caregiver burden, by repeatedly measuring symptoms and quality-of-life scores over time.

What the researchers hope to learn. To describe the disease burden of MSA, track clinical progression using rating scales, and measure how multidisciplinary clinic care is associated with patient quality of life and caregiver burden.

What this study is about

The study's own summary, as published on ClinicalTrials.gov. Underlined terms have a short explanation.

This is a prospective cohort study to examine the disease burden of multiple system atrophy and the impact of multidisciplinary care on quality of life and caregiver burden. Data will be collected through valid rating scales completed by patients and caregivers at home or in the MSA clinic.

Eligibility

The criteria exactly as listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. Only the study team can say whether they apply to you.

Inclusion criteria

  • Subject must be a patient in the UT Southwestern MSA clinic and be able to attend the multidisciplinary clinic every 4 months
  • Patients with possible or probable MSA based on established criteria
  • Subjects must be 18 years or older

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients that are unable to give consent
  • Minor patients (younger than age 18)
  • Non-English speaking patients
  • Subjects that are diagnosed with dementia

Study description and what participation involves

The study's detailed description, as published on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Detailed description from the registry

Study Procedures: Participants and caregivers will attend a multidisciplinary MSA clinic one day every four months. In addition to the standard of care, they will be asked to complete both online and paper questionnaires, including the following:

  • UMSARS (Unified MSA Rating Scale)
  • MSA QOL
  • CES-D
  • OHQ
  • Compass-31
  • BIC
  • UPDRS
  • SARA
  • MDS Scale
  • CGI
  • MoCA

Participants will be part of the study as long as they are a patient of the MSA clinic, and will be contacted for follow-up information up to five years.

AI summaryWhat participation may involve, in plain languageShow ▾Hide ▴

AI-written from the registry record, not the study's own wording. May contain errors or omissions. Check the registry text on this page and the original record ↗ before acting on it.

Attend a multidisciplinary MSA clinic one day every four months. Complete validated questionnaires and clinician rating scales (some at home, some in clinic), for example MSA‑QoL, UMSARS and MoCA; caregivers will complete caregiver-burden questionnaires. Physicians will complete clinical rating scales every four months. Participants remain in the study while they are patients at the clinic and may be contacted for follow-up for up to five years.

How the study is structured. A prospective observational cohort: people with MSA attend a multidisciplinary clinic every four months, complete patient questionnaires and caregivers complete their questionnaires, and physicians complete clinical rating scales. No experimental treatment is assigned; participants are followed and reassessed over time (up to five years).

Questions you could ask

These questions are suggestions for a conversation with the study team or your own clinician, not advice.

  • This is an observational study, so the study itself gives no treatment. What would taking part involve for me, and would it change my usual care?
  • The listed sites are in United States. Is any of them reachable for me, and does the study help with travel?
  • Which of the eligibility criteria would need to be checked with tests before I could join?

More on multiple system atrophy

Clinical trials76 trials listed for multiple system atrophyEvery trial the registry lists for multiple system atrophy, with recruitment status, phase and sites, updated from ClinicalTrials.gov.See all trials →Research updatesWhat changed in multiple system atrophy researchLatest monthly update: September 2026. Includes: Tube feeding. New research summarized each month in plain language, with links to every source paper.Read the latest update →

Important dates

Study start
March 2016
Primary completion
March 2028 (estimated)
Study completion
March 2028 (estimated)
Target enrollment
200 participants (estimated)
Last updated on registry
May 22, 2026
Data verified
Oct 10, 2026

Sponsor and research team

The lead sponsor funds and oversees the trial. A pharmaceutical or biotech company sponsor typically means the study is testing that company's drug or device; a hospital, university, or government agency usually indicates investigator-initiated or publicly funded research.

Lead sponsor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Principal investigator
Steven Vernino MD PhD, PROFESSOR
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Central study contact

If you're interested in participating, the central contact can answer general questions about the study — including eligibility requirements and how to find a recruiting site near you. Actual eligibility is determined by the site's medical team.

Participating sites (1)

Terms used on this page · explanations by MedicalUpdates.ai

prospective cohort
A group of people who share a characteristic, such as a diagnosis, and are studied together. 'Prospective' means they are followed forward from enrolment; 'retrospective' means existing records are reviewed.
Inclusion Criteria
The conditions a person must meet to be considered for the study, for example a confirmed diagnosis, an age range or a test result.
Exclusion Criteria
The conditions that rule a person out even if they meet the inclusion criteria, for example other illnesses, certain medicines or pregnancy.
standard of care
Treatment generally considered appropriate for a condition in a particular clinical setting. It can vary by patient, place and over time. In many studies the new treatment is added to, or compared with, standard of care.
follow-up
The period after treatment or enrolment during which participants are observed or contacted, for example to record side effects or outcomes.

The study record on this page is reproduced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, where it was submitted by the study sponsor. MedicalUpdates.ai does not own this content, is not affiliated with or endorsed by ClinicalTrials.gov, NIH, or the U.S. Government, and does not verify the record. Plain-language notes, the glossary and the questions above are added by this site; text in the boxes marked "AI summary" was written by an AI model and may contain errors. Registry records change over time. Check the original record for the current version and discuss eligibility or participation with a qualified healthcare professional.

← Back to clinical trials