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Connective Tissue DiseaseNCT00001641

Study of Heritable Connective Tissue Disorders

An observational study of Connective Tissue Disease and Dissecting Aneurysm, run by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purposes of this study are to identify the genes responsible for inherited connective tissue disorders and learn about the range of medical problems they cause. It will investigate whether specific gene changes cause specific medical problems and will establish diagnostic criteria (signs and symptoms) for the… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
How many people
900 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Mar 1997to Jun 2002
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Individuals and their family members will be offered enrollment if they have a suspected or established diagnosis of Marfan, Stickler, Ehlers-Danlos, or a closely related syndrome.
  • 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;
  • Aortic dilatation and/or dissection;
  • Ectopia lentis, detached retina, vitreous degeneration and/or early onset high myopia;
  • Posterior cleft palate; joint laxity and/or dislocation;
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Premature osteoarthritis;
  • Skin fragility, striae, easy bruisability and/or hyperextensibility;
  • Pectus excavatum or carinatum;
  • Scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, and/or dural ectasia;
  • High frequency sensorineural hearing loss.

Who cannot join

  • Inability to provide informed consent.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Clinical and Molecular Manifestations of Heritable Connective Tissue Disorders

The purposes of this study are to identify the genes responsible for inherited connective tissue disorders and learn about the range of medical problems they cause. It will investigate whether specific gene changes cause specific medical problems and will establish diagnostic criteria (signs and symptoms) for the individual syndromes.

Children and adults with a known or suspected inherited connective tissue disorder (Marfan, Ehlers-Danlos or Stickler syndrome, or other closely related disorders) and their family members may be eligible for this study.

Read more

Patients enrolled in the study will have a medical history, physical examination and blood tests, as well as other procedures that may include:

  • Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
  • X-rays and other imaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scans
  • Lung function studies
  • Urine tests
  • Skin biopsy (removal of a small piece of tissue, under local anesthetic, for microscopic examination)
  • Examination by various specialists (e.g., in ophthalmology, gastroenterology, rehabilitation medicine) as needed
  • Questionnaires regarding chronic pain and fatigue, quality of life, and the impact of the connective tissue disorder on the patient and family. (Patients who wish to enroll but cannot travel to NIH may have a more limited participation, including review of medical records, telephone interview regarding personal and family history, and collection of a specimen (blood, skin biopsy, or other) for genetic testing.

Patients will be notified of genetic testing results that show a change responsible for their connective tissue disorder. If they wish, the information will also be sent to their local health care provider, along with recommendations for additional tests or treatment options. No treatment is offered as part of this study.

Participating family members who do not themselves have a connective tissue disorder will provide a small blood sample for gene testing and be interviewed by telephone about their personal and family health history. Those whose blood test results show a gene change associated with a connective tissue disorder will be invited to NIH for a discussion of the findings or referred to a genetic center in their area.

Read the detailed description

We will investigate the clinical manifestations and molecular genetic defects of heritable connective tissue disorders, concentrating on the Marfan, Stickler, and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Although each of these conditions has been known for many years, the full spectrum of the associated phenotypes continues to be expanded and the genetic etiology of these conditions has not been completely elucidated. In addition, many patients have features overlapping two or more of the described syndromes, precluding unequivocal diagnosis. The goals of this study are to further define and characterize the full phenotype and natural history of these disorders, and to perform genetic linkage, gene identification, mutation detection, and genotype/phenotype correlations in affected individuals and families. Individuals suspected to have Marfan, Stickler or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or a closely related disorder, as well as interested family members, will be enrolled. Participants will undergo genetic analyses and periodic clinical assessment. The expected outcomes will be improved clinical descriptions of the conditions and gene and mutation identification with analysis of genotype/phenotype correlations.

Keywords
Fibrillin, Collagen, Marfan Syndrome, Stickler Syndrome, Aortic Dissection, Ehlers-Danlos, Connective Tissue Disorders, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Nail-Patella Syndrome
Medical subject headings
Connective Tissue Diseases, Aortic Dissection, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome, Nail-Patella Syndrome, Arachnodactyly, Stickler syndrome, type 1

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
  2. Study startMar 1997
  3. Study completionJun 2002

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Enrolment
900 participants
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00001641
Sponsor's protocol ID
970089
Other IDs
97-HG-0089
Status last verified
Jun 2002
First submitted
3 Nov 1999
Last updated
4 Mar 2008
Results posted
No

Publications

  • Beighton P, de Paepe A, Danks D, Finidori G, Gedde-Dahl T, Goodman R, Hall JG, Hollister DW, Horton W, McKusick VA, et al. International Nosology of Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue, Berlin, 1986. Am J Med Genet. 1988 Mar;29(3):581-94. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.1320290316. No abstract available.

    PubMed 3287925
  • Cutting GR, Kazazian HH Jr, Antonarakis SE, Killen PD, Yamada Y, Francomano CA. Macrorestriction mapping of COL4A1 and COL4A2 collagen genes on human chromosome 13q34. Genomics. 1988 Oct;3(3):256-63. doi: 10.1016/0888-7543(88)90086-9.

    PubMed 3224982
  • Dietz HC, Pyeritz RE, Hall BD, Cadle RG, Hamosh A, Schwartz J, Meyers DA, Francomano CA. The Marfan syndrome locus: confirmation of assignment to chromosome 15 and identification of tightly linked markers at 15q15-q21.3. Genomics. 1991 Feb;9(2):355-61. doi: 10.1016/0888-7543(91)90264-f.

    PubMed 2004786

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Connective Tissue Disease and Dissecting Aneurysm, run by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Mar 2008. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00001641, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Mar 2008; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.

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