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Manifestations of Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue

This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified by National Institute on Aging (NIA), August 2008

Sponsored by: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Information provided by: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00270686
  Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine cardiovascular and musculoskeletal complications of heritable connective tissue disorders (HDCT) and the natural history of these complications.


Condition
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Marfan Syndrome
Stickler Syndrome

Genetics Home Reference related topics:   Baller-Gerold syndrome    Crouzon syndrome    Ehlers-Danlos syndrome    hemophilia    Lenz microphthalmia syndrome    Marfan syndrome    Melnick-Needles syndrome    oculofaciocardiodental syndrome    Opitz G/BBB syndrome    Peters plus syndrome    Stickler syndrome   

MedlinePlus related topics:   Connective Tissue Disorders    Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome    Marfan Syndrome   

U.S. FDA Resources

Study Type:   Observational
Study Design:   Cohort, Prospective
Official Title:   Clinical and Molecular Manifestations of Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue

Further study details as provided by National Institute on Aging (NIA):

Biospecimen Retention:   Samples With DNA

Biospecimen Description:

Whole blood, frozen fibroblast cultures from skin or other tissue samples, fixed tissue, plasma


Estimated Enrollment:   300
Study Start Date:   June 2003
Estimated Study Completion Date:   December 2012
Estimated Primary Completion Date:   December 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Groups/Cohorts
1
Longitudinal Study Arm: 450 participants who will be involved in extensive testing and will be followed longitudinally. Each participant spends approximately 2 days undergoing clinical evaluations. The clinical visits occur every 1 to 5 years based on the subject's age, medical condition, and ability to travel to the study location.
2
Mutational Analysis Arm: There is an upper limit of 1385 participants for this arm. Participants may come to the NIA Clinical Research Unit for a one-time visit (less than one day in length), or they may enroll off-site by sending in bloods, saliva, or bucca samples for the DNA analysis.
3
Genome Protocol Arm: This arm consists of participants who have been previously enrolled under NHGRI protocol 97-HG-0089, presently inactive. The samples are housed at NIA facilities for use by the PI and collaborators approved by the NIA IRB.

Detailed Description:

The purpose of this research is to investigate a group of genetic disorders called the Hereditary Disorders of Connective Tissue and describe the health problems associated with these conditions. These disorders and their prominent symptoms include:

  • Marfan Syndrome--vascular dilatation (enlargement) and dissection (a tear in the lining), skeletal abnormalities
  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome--soft fragile skin, bleeding problems, joint laxity (looseness), chronic pain
  • Stickler Syndrome--premature osteoarthritis, bifid uvula (a split in the fleshy lobe hanging down from the soft palate), cleft palate, hearing loss, vitreoretinal degeneration (degeneration of the retina and the transparent gel that fills the inner portion of the eyeball between the lens and the retina)

People who have a known or strongly suspected diagnosis are eligible to participate. At the NIA ASTRA unit at Harbor Hospital, a study investigator will obtain a detailed medical history and perform a physical examination on participants. These evaluations will occur every 2 years for 5 years. Additional studies may include an echocardiogram, ECG, Holter study, bone densitometry, blood and urine tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/MRA studies and vascular studies. A skin biopsy may be done with a separate consent for some participants. Questionnaires about pain and quality of life will be completed by participants.

  Eligibility
Ages Eligible for Study:   12 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Sampling Method:   Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants may be self-referred or referred by physician, nurses, genetic counselors, or other health professionals, support groups, and family members. With the exception of male and minority participants we are not actively recruiting new research participants because the number of self-referrals through support groups and enrolled family members have been sufficient.


Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Established or strongly suspected diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos, Marfan, or Stickler syndrome within immediate family
  • Personal or family history of one or more of the following features in a pattern suggestive of a heritable connective tissue disorder: Marfanoid body habitus (unusually long limbs and digits, deformation of the chest wall), aortic dilatation and/or dissection (a large vessel that comes out of the heart), aneurysms (balloon shaped enlargements) in other vessels, ectopia lentis (dislocation of the lens of the eye), detached retina (separation of the retina from the eyeball), vitreous degeneration (degeneration of the gel that fills the eye) and/or early onset high myopia (near-sightedness), cleft palate, joint laxity and/or dislocation, premature osteoarthritis, skin fragility, striae (stretch marks), easy bruising, and/or hyperextensible skin, scoliosis (curvature of the spine), spondylolisthesis (slippage of the bones of the spine) and/or dural ectasia (distortion of the lining of the spinal cord), high frequency sensorineural hearing loss (inability to hear certain sounds due to nerve impairment)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to provide informed consent
  • Pregnant and nursing women may be limited in their participation in some aspects of the study (e.g. ionizing radiation exposure or MRI) during the time that they are pregnant or nursing
  Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00270686

Contacts
Contact: NIA Recruiter     410-350-3941     NIAStudiesRecruitmetn@mail.nih.gov    

Locations
United States, Maryland
Harbor Hospital     Recruiting
      Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21225
      Contact: Leslie Sloper, RN     410-350-7391     sloperlj@mail.nih.gov    
      Principal Investigator: Nazli McDonnell, MD, PhD            

Sponsors and Collaborators

Investigators
Principal Investigator:     Nazli McDonnell, MD, PhD     National Institute on Aging (NIA)    
  More Information

Publications:

Responsible Party:   National Institute of Aging ( Nazli McDonnell, M.D., Ph.D. Principle Investigator )
Study ID Numbers:   AG0060
First Received:   December 27, 2005
Last Updated:   August 22, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:   NCT00270686
Health Authority:   United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Institute on Aging (NIA):
genetics  
hereditary disorders  
connective tissue  

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Craniofacial Abnormalities
Marfan syndrome
Hemostatic Disorders
Bone Diseases
Musculoskeletal Abnormalities
Hemorrhagic Disorders
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Bone Diseases, Developmental
Connective Tissue Diseases
Abnormalities, Multiple
Eye Diseases, Hereditary
Congenital Abnormalities
Skin Diseases, Genetic
Heart Diseases
Skin Diseases
Cardiovascular Abnormalities
Hematologic Diseases
Eye Diseases
Blood Coagulation Disorders
Osteochondrodysplasias
Vascular Diseases
Skin Abnormalities
Marfan Syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Genetic Diseases, Inborn
Heart Defects, Congenital
Arachnodactyly

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Limb Deformities, Congenital
Pathologic Processes
Disease
Collagen Diseases
Syndrome
Cardiovascular Diseases

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 04, 2008




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