Sarada Sakamuri, MD

All Publications

• Nusinersen versus Sham Control in Later-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE Mercuri, E., Darras, B. T., Chiriboga, C. A., Day, J. W., Campbell, C., Connolly, A. M., Iannaccone, S. T., Kirschner, J., Kuntz, N. L., Saito, K., Shieh, P. B., Tulinius, M., Mazzone, E. S., Montes, J., Bishop, K. M., Yang, Q., Foster, R., Gheuens, S., Bennett, C. F., Farwell, W., Schneider, E., De Vivo, D. C., Finkel, R. S., CHERISH Study Grp 2018; 378 (7): 625–35

  Abstract

  Nusinersen is an antisense oligonucleotide drug that modulates pre-messenger RNA splicing of the survival motor neuron 2 ( SMN2) gene. It has been developed for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled, phase 3 trial of nusinersen in 126 children with SMA who had symptom onset after 6 months of age. The children were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to undergo intrathecal administration of nusinersen at a dose of 12 mg (nusinersen group) or a sham procedure (control group) on days 1, 29, 85, and 274. The primary end point was the least-squares mean change from baseline in the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale-Expanded (HFMSE) score at 15 months of treatment; HFMSE scores range from 0 to 66, with higher scores indicating better motor function. Secondary end points included the percentage of children with a clinically meaningful increase from baseline in the HFMSE score (≥3 points), an outcome that indicates improvement in at least two motor skills.In the prespecified interim analysis, there was a least-squares mean increase from baseline to month 15 in the HFMSE score in the nusinersen group (by 4.0 points) and a least-squares mean decrease in the control group (by -1.9 points), with a significant between-group difference favoring nusinersen (least-squares mean difference in change, 5.9 points; 95% confidence interval, 3.7 to 8.1; P<0.001). This result prompted early termination of the trial. Results of the final analysis were consistent with results of the interim analysis. In the final analysis, 57% of the children in the nusinersen group as compared with 26% in the control group had an increase from baseline to month 15 in the HFMSE score of at least 3 points (P<0.001), and the overall incidence of adverse events was similar in the nusinersen group and the control group (93% and 100%, respectively).Among children with later-onset SMA, those who received nusinersen had significant and clinically meaningful improvement in motor function as compared with those in the control group. (Funded by Biogen and Ionis Pharmaceuticals; CHERISH ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02292537 .).

  View details for DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1710504

  View details for Web of Science ID 000425000000008

  View details for PubMedID 29443664

• Increased EEG Theta Spectral Power in Sleep in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Cheung, J., Ruoff, C., Moore, H., Hagerman, K. A., Perez, J., Sakamuri, S., Warby, S. C., Mignot, E., Day, J., Sampson, J. 2018; 14 (2): 229–35

  Abstract

  Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder that involves the central nervous system (CNS). Individuals with DM1 commonly present with sleep dysregulation, including excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep-disordered breathing. We aim to characterize electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra from nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) in patients with DM1 compared to matched controls to better understand the potential CNS sleep dysfunction in DM1.A retrospective, case-control (1:2) chart review of patients with DM1 (n = 18) and matched controls (n = 36) referred for clinical PSG at the Stanford Sleep Center was performed. Controls were matched based on age, sex, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), body mass index (BMI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Sleep stage and respiratory metrics for the two groups were compared. Power spectral analysis of the EEG C3-M2 signal was performed using the fast Fourier transformation.Patients with DM1 had significantly increased theta percent power in stage N2 sleep compared to matched controls. Theta/beta and theta/alpha percent power spectral ratios were found to be significantly increased in stage N2, N3, all sleep stages combined, and all wake periods combined in patients with DM1 compared to controls. A significantly lower nadir O2saturation was also found in patients with DM1 versus controls.Compared to matched controls, patients with DM1 had increased EEG theta spectral power. Increased theta/beta and theta/alpha power spectral ratios in nocturnal PSG may reflect DM1 pathology in the CNS.

  View details for DOI 10.5664/jcsm.6940

  View details for PubMedID 29394960

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5786842

• Safety and efficacy of eculizumab in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive refractory generalised myasthenia gravis (REGAIN): a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study LANCET NEUROLOGY Howard, J. F., Utsugisawa, K., Benatar, M., Murai, H., Barohn, R. J., Illa, I., Jacob, S., Vissing, J., Burns, T. M., Kissel, J. T., Muppidi, S., Nowak, R. J., O'Brien, F., Wang, J., Mantegazza, R., REGAIN Study Grp 2017; 16 (12): 976–86

  Abstract

  Complement is likely to have a role in refractory generalised myasthenia gravis, but no approved therapies specifically target this system. Results from a phase 2 study suggested that eculizumab, a terminal complement inhibitor, produced clinically meaningful improvements in patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive refractory generalised myasthenia gravis. We further assessed the efficacy and safety of eculizumab in this patient population in a phase 3 trial.We did a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study (REGAIN) in 76 hospitals and specialised clinics in 17 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Eligible patients were aged at least 18 years, with a Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score of 6 or more, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) class II-IV disease, vaccination against Neisseria meningitides, and previous treatment with at least two immunosuppressive therapies or one immunosuppressive therapy and chronic intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange for 12 months without symptom control. Patients with a history of thymoma or thymic neoplasms, thymectomy within 12 months before screening, or use of intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange within 4 weeks before randomisation, or rituximab within 6 months before screening, were excluded. We randomly assigned participants (1:1) to either intravenous eculizumab or intravenous matched placebo for 26 weeks. Dosing for eculizumab was 900 mg on day 1 and at weeks 1, 2, and 3; 1200 mg at week 4; and 1200 mg given every second week thereafter as maintenance dosing. Randomisation was done centrally with an interactive voice or web-response system with patients stratified to one of four groups based on MGFA disease classification. Where possible, patients were maintained on existing myasthenia gravis therapies and rescue medication was allowed at the study physician's discretion. Patients, investigators, staff, and outcome assessors were masked to treatment assignment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline to week 26 in MG-ADL total score measured by worst-rank ANCOVA. The efficacy population set was defined as all patients randomly assigned to treatment groups who received at least one dose of study drug, had a valid baseline MG-ADL assessment, and at least one post-baseline MG-ADL assessment. The safety analyses included all randomly assigned patients who received eculizumab or placebo. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01997229.Between April 30, 2014, and Feb 19, 2016, we randomly assigned and treated 125 patients, 62 with eculizumab and 63 with placebo. The primary analysis showed no significant difference between eculizumab and placebo (least-squares mean rank 56·6 [SEM 4·5] vs 68·3 [4·5]; rank-based treatment difference -11·7, 95% CI -24·3 to 0·96; p=0·0698). No deaths or cases of meningococcal infection occurred during the study. The most common adverse events in both groups were headache and upper respiratory tract infection (ten [16%] for both events in the eculizumab group and 12 [19%] for both in the placebo group). Myasthenia gravis exacerbations were reported by six (10%) patients in the eculizumab group and 15 (24%) in the placebo group. Six (10%) patients in the eculizumab group and 12 (19%) in the placebo group required rescue therapy.The change in the MG-ADL score was not statistically significant between eculizumab and placebo, as measured by the worst-rank analysis. Eculizumab was well tolerated. The use of a worst-rank analytical approach proved to be an important limitation of this study since the secondary and sensitivity analyses results were inconsistent with the primary endpoint result; further research into the role of complement is needed.Alexion Pharmaceuticals.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30369-1

  View details for Web of Science ID 000415315400015

  View details for PubMedID 29066163

• Phrenic nerve conduction studies as a biomarker of respiratory insufficiency in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS AND FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION Jenkins, J. A., Sakamuri, S., Katz, J. S., Forshew, D. A., Guion, L., Moore, D., Miller, R. G. 2016; 17 (3-4): 213-220

  Abstract

  Our objective was to examine the value of phrenic nerve conduction studies (PNCS) in quantifying diaphragm dysfunction in ALS, as no ideal test of respiratory insufficiency exists in ALS. We prospectively recorded bilateral PNCS, forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP), respiratory rate, ALSFRS-R, and respiratory symptoms in 100 ALS patients attending our clinic over a nine-month period. Survival data were collected for two years. Results showed that PNCS were reproducible and well tolerated. When the Pamp was abnormal (<0.3 mV), the relative risk of a respiratory rate >18 was 7.2 (95% CI 2.2-37.2, p <0.01) compared with a Pamp ≥0.3 mV. Similarly, the relative risk of orthopnea was 3.5 (95% CI 1.6-8.7, p <0.01) and dyspnea 2.4 (95% CI 1.4-4.0, p <0.01). FVC had the strongest correlation with Pamp (R(2) = 0.48 (p <0.001)). Fourteen of 15 patients with a FVC <50% had a Pamp <0.3 mV. However, eight with a Pamp <0.3 had a FVC >80%. The median survival was 1.07 years when the Pamp was <0.3 mV and >2 years when the Pamp was >0.3 mV (p <0.001). In conclusion, the phrenic Pamp correlated closely with multiple symptoms, signs, and laboratory measures of respiratory insufficiency and may prove to be a useful biomarker of respiratory dysfunction in ALS.

  View details for DOI 10.3109/21678421.2015.1112406

  View details for Web of Science ID 000374776900008

  View details for PubMedID 26618854

• Congenital muscular dystrophy and generalized epilepsy caused by GMPPB mutations. Brain research Raphael, A. R., Couthouis, J., Sakamuri, S., Siskind, C., Vogel, H., Day, J. W., Gitler, A. D. 2014; 1575: 66-71

  Abstract

  The alpha-dystroglycanopathies are genetically heterogeneous muscular dystrophies that result from hypoglycosylation of alpha-dystroglycan (α-DG). Alpha-dystroglycan is an essential link between the extracellular matrix and the muscle fiber sarcolemma, and proper glycosylation is critical for its ability to bind to ligands in the extracellular matrix. We sought to identify the genetic basis of alpha-dystroglycanopathy in a family wherein the affected individuals presented with congenital muscular dystrophy, brain abnormalities and generalized epilepsy. We performed whole exome sequencing and identified compound heterozygous GMPPB mutations in the affected children. GMPPB is an enzyme in the glycosylation pathway, and GMPPB mutations were recently linked to eight cases of alpha-dystroglycanopathy with a range of symptoms. We identified a novel mutation in GMPPB (p.I219T) as well as a previously published mutation (p.R287Q). Thus, our work further confirms a role for GMPPB defects in alpha-dystroglycanopathy, and suggests that glycosylation may play a role in the neuronal membrane channels or networks involved in the physiology of generalized epilepsy syndromes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled RNA Metabolism 2013.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.04.028

  View details for PubMedID 24780531

• Perioperative ischemic optic neuropathy (POION). Spine Bennett, H. L., Origlieri, C., Sakamuri, S. 2005; 30 (23): 2706-?

  View details for PubMedID 16319759