Scientists tap into lymph fluid to unlock MS mysteries
NCT ID NCT05162638
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study collects lymph fluid from the chest of 24 people (some with MS, some healthy) to compare immune cells in the lymph system versus blood. In MS participants, fluid is also collected before and after treatment with the drug ofatumumab. The goal is to understand how the immune system changes with MS and treatment, not to test a new therapy.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- ofatumumab
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could reveal how immune cells travel in the body and how MS drugs affect them, pointing toward better treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early-stage study (24 people) focused on observation, not treatment. The procedure carries risks like infection or bleeding, and findings may not apply broadly.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 24 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2022
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 40 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants eligible for inclusion in this study must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Written informed consent must be obtained before any assessment is performed. 2. Adult participants aged 18 to 40 years (inclusive) at Screening. 3. Participants must be able to understand English and be able to review and comprehend the informed consent form independently or with the help of research staff 4. No use of systemic glucocorticoids in the past 4 weeks For participants with MS following additional criteria need to be met: 1. Diagnosis of MS according to the 2017 Revised McDonald criteria. 2. Ability to undergo several MRIs 3. Disability status at Screening with an EDSS score of 0 to 4 (inclusive) 4. MS treatment history restricted to Interferons and/glatiramer acetate treatment only or untreated to date 5. Neurologically stable within one month prior to interventional procedure. Exclusion Criteria: * 1\. Participants suspected of not being able or willing to cooperate or comply with study protocol requirements in the opinion of the investigator. 2\. Participants with primary progressive MS (Polman C et al., 2011) 3. Participants meeting criteria for neuromyelitis optica (Wingerchuck D et al., 2015) 4. Participants with disease duration of more than 10 years 5. Participants who are pregnant or nursing (lactating) 6. Participants with active chronic disease (or stable but treated with immune therapy) of the immune system other than MS (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, etc.) or with immunodeficiency syndrome (hereditary immune deficiency, drug-induced immune deficiency) 7. Participants with active systemic bacterial, viral or fungal infections, or known to have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) 8. Participants with neurological symptoms consistent with PML or confirmed PML 9. Participants at risk of developing or having reactivation of syphilis or tuberculosis 10. History of cardiovascular disease or uncontrolled hypertension 11. History of diabetes mellitus 12. History of cancer (other than localized skin cancer) in the previous 5 years 13. Have received any live or live-attenuated vaccines (including for varicella-zoster virus or measles) within 2 months prior to first study drug administration 14. Immunization with non-live vaccines within 2 weeks of the study procedure 15. Participants at risk of developing or having reactivation of hepatitis: Positive results at Screening for serological markers for hepatitis (H) B and C indicating acute or chronic infection: 1. HBs Ag and/or anti-HBc IgM and/or HB virus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) 2. anti-HBs negative and Anti-HBc positive 3. anti-HC IgG (if positive IgG, HCV-RNA PCR will be performed and if negative, participant can be enrolled) 16. Use of other investigational drugs at the time of enrollment (Screening) or within the prior 30 days, or five elimination half-lives, or until the expected pharmacodynamic effect has returned to baseline, whichever is longer 17. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \<750/mm3; 18. Hemoglobin \<10.0 g/dL 19. Platelet count \<100,000/mm3 20. Prothrombin time (PT) or international normalized ration (INR) \>1.5 x ULN
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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