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The Genetics of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Know the risks and potential benefits of clinical studies and talk to your health care provider before participating. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00166569
Recruitment Status : Recruiting
First Posted : September 14, 2005
Last Update Posted : March 3, 2020
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Corrine Welt, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Brief Summary:
The goal of this study is to determine the genetic basis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We will first look for genes in the Icelandic population, where large family trees are known and it is easier to search for genes. We will then determine whether these same genes are important in U.S. PCOS patients.

Condition or disease
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Detailed Description:

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women. Its marked phenotypic variability, puzzling list of associated conditions, and hence potential risk to a woman's health over her lifecycle clearly remain a clinical investigational, genetic, and therapeutic challenge. To a great extent, this variability can be attributed to the marked genetic and environmental heterogeneity of the populations studied. We plan to address many of these long-term clinical research obstacles by delineating the genetic basis of PCOS in a unique investigational venue, the Icelandic population. Studying the Icelandic population has the following advantages: a) the population's relative genetic and environmental homogeneity; b) the remarkably rich genealogic database; and c) the centralized healthcare information. In this unusual venue, clustering of large numbers of PCOS families with known relationships is possible. Their relative homogeneity and genealogic characteristics can reduce genetic variance and hence be used to map the genetic basis for PCOS more efficiently than in more heterogeneous populations. As the genes responsible for PCOS emerge, this protocol will also determine phenotype/genotype correlations in Iceland, contrasting them with US women, and assess their long-term medical consequences.

Each female subject will be asked to arrive fasting in the morning. Women with PCOS will be asked to arrive at least 10 days from their last menstrual period, while women with regular menstrual cycles will be seen within the first 14 days after their menstrual period starts. All subjects will be asked to fill out an extensive questionnaire. Subjects will then undergo further history, physical exam and laboratory exams. Blood will be drawn at baseline for DNA (the material in the cell that holds the genes), fasting blood glucose and insulin, HbA1C, total and fractionated cholesterol, triglycerides, testosterone, androstenedione, DHEAS, SHBG and 17-OH Progesterone. Additional blood will be drawn at 10 and 20 minutes for measurement of LH and FSH, which are pulsatile. An oral glucose tolerance test will be optional. A standardized transvaginal ultrasound will be performed to look at the ovaries in all female subjects. This can be done over the abdomen with a full bladder if the patient prefers.

Male family members will also undergo a history, physical and laboratory exams in an identical manner to that of their female family members with the addition that specific notice of their hair distribution will be made. PCOS subjects who are on oral contraceptives or other hormonal medication may have cholesterol, insulin, glucose, triglycerides and HbA1C labs drawn, whereas subjects on insulin sensitizing agents will not have any blood drawn for these tests. These subjects will undergo an ultrasound and DNA sampling.

All hormone blood samples from Icelandic and Boston subjects will be examined in Boston. All DNA testing will be performed in the Genotyping Core of deCODE, a company in Iceland. Therefore, all DNA samples from Iceland and Boston will be analyzed in Iceland. The Boston blood samples will be coded and sent to the DeCODE genotyping facility. The investigators in Boston will retain the link between the code and the subject information in a locked area in the office. The names of subjects will not be disclosed to deCODE.

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Study Type : Observational
Estimated Enrollment : 2700 participants
Observational Model: Case-Control
Time Perspective: Prospective
Official Title: The Genetics of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Study Start Date : January 2003
Estimated Primary Completion Date : December 2025
Estimated Study Completion Date : December 2025

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine






Information from the National Library of Medicine

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Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older   (Adult, Older Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Sampling Method:   Non-Probability Sample
Study Population
Women with PCOS age 18 to 40 years, sampled from the population and controls without PCOS.
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Inclusion Criteria-PCOS Probands: 1) Aged 18 yrs or above 2) Oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea (<9 menses/yr); 3) clinical and/or biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenemia; 4) normal TSH and prolactin <25 ng/mL; 5) on no hormonal or insulin sensitizing medication for at least 3 months and have not taken Provera for at least ten days prior to enrollment. If the subject has previously had hormone levels drawn and processed in the Reproductive Endocrine Laboratory, it is not necessary to discontinue hormonal or insulin sensitizing medication.

A second group of PCOS probands with a documented diagnosis of PCOS will also be recruited. These subjects will meet all of the criteria above except that they will be on hormonal medication.

Inclusion Criteria-Female Unaffected Relatives: 1) Aged at 18 yrs or above; 2) Regular menstrual cycles 21-35 days or history of regular menstrual cycles in the past if menopausal; 3) no clinical or biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism; 4) normal TSH and prolactin <25 ng/mL; 5) on no hormonal or insulin sensitizing medication for at least 3 months.

Inclusion Criteria-Male Relatives: 1) Aged 18 yrs or above; 2) normal TSH and prolactin <25 ng/mL; 5) on no hormonal or insulin sensitizing medication for at least 3 months.

Inclusion Criteria-Control Subjects: All control subjects will meet the criteria outlined for the female unaffected relatives. In Iceland, control subjects will be recruited from the Icelandic national registry, matched by age and sex to PCOS subjects and their family members. They will otherwise be recruited at random. In Boston, control subjects will be recruited from email and newspaper listings.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Exclusion Criteria PCOS Probands: Subjects will not have 1) late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia as defined by a fasting 17OH progesterone level <200 ng/mL or a cortrosyn stimulated 17 OH progesterone level <500 ng/mL.

Exclusion Criteria (Female unaffected relatives): None. Exclusion Criteria Male Relatives: None. Exclusion Criteria-Control Subjects: Control subjects chosen at random will be excluded if they are already participating in the study as a PCOS subject or are a first degree family member of the PCOS subject.


Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00166569


Contacts
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Contact: Corrine Welt, MD 801-585-1875 cwelt@genetics.utah.edu
Contact: Corrine K Welt, MD 801-585-1875 cwelt@partners.org

Locations
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United States, Utah
University of Utah Recruiting
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84112
Contact: Corrine Welt, MD    801-585-1875    cwelt@genetics.utah.edu   
Contact: Corrine K Welt, MD    801-585-1875 ext 8015851875    cwelt@genetics.utah.edu   
Principal Investigator: Corrine K Welt, MD         
Sponsors and Collaborators
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Investigators
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Principal Investigator: Corrine Welt, MD
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
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Responsible Party: Corrine Welt, Associate Professor of Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00166569    
Other Study ID Numbers: 5U01HD044417-03 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
First Posted: September 14, 2005    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: March 3, 2020
Last Verified: March 2020
Keywords provided by Corrine Welt, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD):
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Syndrome
Disease
Pathologic Processes
Ovarian Cysts
Cysts
Neoplasms
Ovarian Diseases
Adnexal Diseases
Genital Diseases, Female
Female Urogenital Diseases
Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications
Urogenital Diseases
Genital Diseases
Gonadal Disorders
Endocrine System Diseases