CArotenoid in hypoChOlesterolemia

Abetalipoproteinemia Clinical Trial

— CaCo  

Official title:

Characterization of the Density of Macular Pigment in Patients With Primary Intestinal Hypocholesterolemia and Its Relation to Their Carotenoid and Anti-oxidant Status.

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05208879
• Other study ID #: 69HCL21_0720
• Status: Recruiting
• Start date: June 30, 2022
• Est. completion date: June 30, 2026

Study information

• Verified date: September 2023
• Source: Hospices Civils de Lyon
• Contact: Peretti Noël, Pr
• Phone: +33 472357050
• Email: noel.peretti[@]chu-lyon.fr
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Hypobetalipoproteinemias (HBL) represent a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by reduced plasma levels of plasmatic lipids (mainly triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (apoB)) below the 5th percentile of the general population adjusted for age, gender. HBL may be attributed to inherited disorders caused by mutations in several known genes. Intestinal recessive HBL includes abetalipoproteinemia (ABL) (OMIM 200100) and Chylomicron Retention Disease (CMRD) (OMIM 246700) - also called Anderson's disease. Those two recessives form of HBL are the ones considered in this study. ABL is due to mutations in the Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein (MTTP) gene which is required for the assembly and secretion of apoB-containing lipoproteins: Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and chylomicrons (CM) in both liver and intestine. Similarly, CMRD is due to mutations in the Sar1b gene encoding the Sar1b protein involved in the control of the intracellular trafficking of CMs in COPII-coated vesicles. Due to a defect in Apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins these diseases are characterized by dietary lipids and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) malabsorption inducing digestive and growth disorders from birth. In parallel, neurological manifestations may appear, mainly as a consequence of vitamin E and A deficiencies.

Ophthalmological disorders are inconstant, with many patients being asymptomatic until adulthood. Loss of night or color vision are the first symptoms associated with retinal degeneration. Without treatment with high doses of vitamins, retinal degeneration can lead to blindness. The exact biological mechanism still remains unknown. Indeed, cases described in the scientific literature demonstrate that early treatment with high doses of vitamin E and A can stop or prevent neurological complications in the vast majority of patients; however, ophthalmic complications have a more versatile response.

Thus, despite early vitamin supplementation, several cases of adolescent or adult patients with vision impairment in the form of retinitis pigmentosa have been reported. This so-called secondary retinitis pigmentosa is characterized by a progressive loss of photoreceptors and a dysfunction of the pigmentary epithelium resulting in a progressive and gradual loss of vision, usually leading to blindness. Interestingly, primary (i.e., genetic) retinitis pigmentosa are characterized by "macula lutea" atrophy composed of two lipophilic molecules from the carotenoid xanthophyll family lutein and zeaxanthin, also known as macular pigments. Moreover, preliminary data seem to show that the patients considered for this study, present decreased plasmatic carotene concentrations as well as plasmatic vitamin E concentrations largely lower than the threshold of normality.

Thus, even if early treatment seems to prevent major ophthalmic complications, it does not provide total ophthalmic protection, which suggests the involvement of other factors among which carotenoids could occupy a prominent place given their essential role in maintaining the integrity of the macula.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 40
• Est. completion date: June 30, 2026
• Est. primary completion date: June 30, 2026
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 6 Years to 50 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Genetically proven family hypocholesterolemia patients,

• Patients systematically monitored in the Gastroenterology and Paediatric Nutrition department of the Women's Hospital Mother Child of Lyon or in the adult endocrinology department of the GHE (Louis Pradel Hospital),

• Girl/woman or boy/man over 6 years and over 12 kg at the time of inclusion (age required for cooperation on macular pigment measurement),

• No objection from the patient or their parents/legal tutors in the case of a minor patient,

• Patient covered by social security.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy to local anesthetics (especially xylocaine)

• Mydriatic allergy

• Person participating in another research with an exclusion period still in progress at pre-inclusion

• Person subject to a safeguard measure.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Abetalipoproteinemia

Intervention

Biological:
• Characterization of carotenoid status and plasma levels of oxidative stress markers in patients (case group only)
Carotenoid status will be determined by measuring plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin obtained during an annual blood draw. These molecules will be analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The oxidative stress markers will be measured, in the blood sample already collected, thanks to specific assay kits: Erythrocyte reduced glutathione, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Plasma and erythrocyte malondialdehyde, Plasma vitamin C, Plasma oxidized cholesterol, F2-isoprostanes. This study does not result in any change in patient management, but requires the collection of an additional volume of blood (14 ml of study-specific blood) during the annual blood draw performed as part of routine patient follow-up.

Other:
• Characterization, evaluation and comparison of macular pigment density
The macular pigment optical density (OD) will be determined by an additional photograph during the fundus usually performed for annual follow-up through two-wavelength autofluorescence imaging. Indeed, the measurement of the optical density consists of an additional post-examination analysis of additional retinal images obtained during the fundus performed for the patients' ophthalmologic follow-up.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
France	Fédération d'endocrinologie, maladies métaboliques, diabète et nutrition Hôpital cardiovasculaire et pneumologique Louis Pradel	Bron
France	UF nutrition pédiatrique, Service hépatologie, gastroentérologie et nutrition pédiatrique Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant de Lyon (GHE-HFME)	Bron
France	UF nutrition pédiatrique, Service hépatologie, gastroentérologie et nutrition pédiatrique Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant de Lyon (GHE-HFME)	Bron

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Hospices Civils de Lyon

Country where clinical trial is conducted

France, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	The principal outcome measure is the macular pigment optical density (OD)	The macular pigment optical density (OD) will be determined by an additional photograph during the fundus usually performed for annual follow-up through two-wavelength autofluorescence imaging. This imaging method provides a profile of autofluorescence distribution calculated using a gray intensity scale in the center of the macula and along the horizontal and vertical meridians. The optical density of the macular pigment is then expressed as the logarithm of the ratio of the peri-oval/foveal excitation spectra symbolized by the acronym "DU" ("Density Unit"). Indeed, in autofluorescence, the lipofuscin chromophores are generally excited with two wavelengths: a first one which is located in the blue spectral region where the absorption band of the lipofuscin overlaps that of the macular pigments, and a second one which is always located in the absorption region of the lipofuscin but outside the absorption range of the macular pigments. Thus, excitation by the first (green) light causes	The optical density measurement will be performed, in addition to the usual patient follow-up tests, during a single visit to the ophthalmology department on a date chosen by the patient.