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Early Biomarkers of Autism in Infants With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)

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. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01780441
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : January 31, 2013
Last Update Posted : February 4, 2021
Sponsor:
Collaborators:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Mustafa Sahin, Boston Children's Hospital

Study Description
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Brief Summary:
The investigators are enrolling 3-12 month old infants with a diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) for a new study on early markers of autism. The study is looking for early signs for autism in a population (TSC) where autism is common. The goal of this project is to use behavioral testing, MRI and EEG techniques to identify children at risk for developing autism starting at 3 months of age and continuing until 36 months of age. Throughout the study, the investigators will recommend Early Intervention services for any child who shows early signs of autism.

Condition or disease
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Detailed Description:

This is a five-year multi-site study using MRI and EEG technologies to identify developmental precursors of Autism Spectrum Disorder in patients with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). The study will be enrolling infants at five TSC centers throughout the country, including Boston Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Texas at Houston and University of California Los Angeles. The main goal of this study is to identify early signs of autism in children with TSC looking at the brain through MRI/diffusion tensor imaging, EEG and behavioral/neuropsychological methods. Eligible infants between the ages of 3-12 months will be evaluated longitudinally at regular visit intervals up to 3 years of age.

Study Objectives

  1. To characterize the developmental precursors of ASD in a large number of TSC infants using a prospective multi-center design: Infants with TSC will be evaluated longitudinally at ages 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months. At each age, children will undergo standardized evaluations, using cognitive and adaptive measures. At age 24 and 36 months, formal assessment for autism will be performed. Clinical data including medication use, seizure history, EEG activity, genotypic variation, and co-morbidities will be recorded to determine if specific clinical factors modify the course of development.
  2. To identify biomarkers with advanced diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) that help predict development of ASD in TSC infants: The investigators hypothesize that decreased white matter integrity performed annually for each of the first 3 years of life, including DTI sequences with tractography. Radial, axial, and mean diffusivity and fractional anisometry will be calculated for each time point and change over time correlated with development of ASD to determine relative risk. Individual measures at each time point will be compared between ASD and non-spectrum groups to assess the individual impact of each measure and timing.
  3. To identify biomarkers with quantitative EEG that help predict development of ASD in TSC infants: The investigators hypothesize that altered functional connectivity, as measured by qEEG coherence and high frequency oscillations, will correlate with development of ASD in TSC. Quantitative EEG (qEEG), EEG coherence/gamma frequency (30-50Hz), and high frequency oscillations encompassing both ripples (80-250H) and fast ripples (250-500 Hz) will be measured at each time point. Changes over time will be correlated with development of ASD to determine relative risk, as will comparison of individual measures between the two groups. EEG findings will also be correlated with MR results obtained to further couple functional connectivity as measured by EEG with structural connectivity measured by DTI.
Study Design
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Study Type : Observational
Actual Enrollment : 166 participants
Observational Model: Cohort
Time Perspective: Prospective
Official Title: Longitudinal Study to Identify Early Biomarkers of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Infants With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)
Actual Study Start Date : January 2013
Actual Primary Completion Date : December 2019
Actual Study Completion Date : December 2020

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine


Groups and Cohorts
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Group/Cohort
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex


Outcome Measures
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Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. ADOS evaluation score at the 36 month visit [ Time Frame: 36 months ]
    The ADOS performed at 24 and 36 months will be used as a preliminary diagnosis for data analysis. The primary outcome is the possible clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder per the DSM 5 guidelines (Autistic Disorder, Asperger's and PDD-NOS).

  2. MRI biomarkers [ Time Frame: 36 months ]
    MRI biomarkers obtained at baseline, 12, 24, 36 months will be applied to characterize individual patients in terms of brain tissue, white matter structure and connectivity, functional networks, and pathology. Brain tissue segmentation will be based on structural images derived from T1- and T2-weighted and FLAIR sequences using automated software tools designed for these tasks. White matter integrity and organization will be inferred from DTI imaging sequences. Structural connectivity networks will be delineated by DTI tractography assessment.

  3. EEG biomarkers [ Time Frame: 36 months ]
    One-hour video-EEG containing both wakefulness and sleep (minimum of 20 minutes of each) will be obtained at baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months. Functional connectivity and pathological activity will be determined by measurement of EEG coherence and gamma frequency/high frequency oscillations.


Biospecimen Retention:   Samples With DNA
Blood

Eligibility Criteria
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Information from the National Library of Medicine

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Ages Eligible for Study:   3 Months to 12 Months   (Child)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Sampling Method:   Non-Probability Sample
Study Population
A total of 150 evaluable infants with TSC will be recruited. Diagnosis of TSC will be based on established clinical criteria and will not require genetic testing prior to participation. The target age of entry into study is 3-6 months, but infants up to age 12 months (less than or equal to 13.5 months) will be included.
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Meets genetic or clinical diagnostic criteria for TSC (Tuberous Sclerosis), the latter based on current recommendations for diagnostic evaluation, such as physical exam, neuroimaging, echocardiogram.
  2. Age criteria: 3 months- 12 months of age at time of enrollment. For study purposes, 3 months is defined as ≥ 9 weeks, 1 day and 12 months is defined as ≤ 13.5 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Prematurity, defined as gestational age < 36 weeks at time of delivery
  2. Has taken an investigational drug as part of another research study, within 30 days prior to study enrollment
  3. Is taking an mTOR inhibitor such as rapamycin, sirolimus, or everolimus (other than topical formulations) at the time of study enrollment
  4. Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma requiring medical or surgical treatment at the time of study enrollment
  5. History of epilepsy surgery at the time of study enrollment
  6. Contraindications to MRI scanning, such as metal implants/non-compatible medical devices or medical conditions
Contacts and Locations
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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): NCT01780441


Locations
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United States, Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294
United States, California
University of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
United States, Massachusetts
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
United States, Ohio
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45229
United States, Texas
University of Texas at Houston
Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
Sponsors and Collaborators
Boston Children's Hospital
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
Investigators
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Principal Investigator: Mustafa Sahin, MD, PhD Boston Children's Hospital
Principal Investigator: Darcy Krueger, MD, PhD Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
More Information
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Additional Information:

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

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Responsible Party: Mustafa Sahin, MD, PhD, Boston Children's Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01780441    
Other Study ID Numbers: IRB-P00005074
1U01NS082320-01 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
First Posted: January 31, 2013    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: February 4, 2021
Last Verified: February 2021
Keywords provided by Mustafa Sahin, Boston Children's Hospital:
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
TSC
Autism
 ASD
Biomarkers
Infants
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
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Tuberous Sclerosis
Sclerosis
Pathologic Processes
Hamartoma
Neoplasms
Neoplasms, Multiple Primary
Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary
Malformations of Cortical Development, Group I
 Malformations of Cortical Development
Nervous System Malformations
Nervous System Diseases
Neurocutaneous Syndromes
Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Congenital Abnormalities
Genetic Diseases, Inborn