View clinical trials related to Ataxia Telangiectasia.
Filter by:Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare devastating human recessive disorder characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, immunodeficiency, chromosomal instability, and cancer susceptibility. In addition to that, a high percentage of patients show dystrophy, growth retardation and poor weight gain. Nevertheless, there are only a few studies assessing this problem. Aim of the present proposal is to investigate the exact body composition, manual muscle strength and hormonal status in patients with A-T compared to healthy controls matched for gender and age. A pelvic sonography in females was performed in order to evaluate the sexual maturity of their inner genitalia. Tanner score was determined to define the physical development. Every subject received a nutritional diary to review its calorie intake and the quality of diet. The investigators expect that the A-T cohort shows an altered body composition, impaired muscle strength, changed hormonal status concerning the sexual hormones and a delayed physical development compared to healthy controls.
Death in Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is usually due to cancer or chronic lung failure around 20 years of age. Despite low lymphocyte counts (CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19), IgA and IgG subclass deficiency opportunistic and acute severe respiratory infections are rare. The prevailing wisdom is that an immunoglobulin replacement therapy is not necessary in most of the patients. However no placebo controlled trials have been performed so far. The aim of this trial was to investigate the prevalence of mild and severe respiratory infections and / or chronic cough in classical A-T patients compared to healthy controls.
100 subjects who have a family history of pancreatic cancer (PC), or known genetic syndromes associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer, will be followed for five years. This data will be used to determine the pancreatic cancer and precancerous lesion detection rate in High Risk Individuals (HRIs). Subjects may agree to annual imaging and annual biomarkers or to biomarkers only.
Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare devastating human recessive disorder characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, immunodeficiency, chromosomal instability, and cancer susceptibility. The underlying mechanism and process of neurodegeneration leading to loss of cerebellar neurons and neurological function is largely unknown. Laboratory diagnostic approaches to neurodegeneration in A-T are hampered by sampling issues. It is dangerous, impractical, and not ethically to directly sample brain tissue by surgical biopsy. In contrast cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a fluid that is in direct contact with brain tissue, is relatively easy to sample in a safe procedure (lumbar puncture). The aim of the proposal is to investigate oxidative stress, low grade inflammation and tissue break down in the brain of A-T patients by analyzing CSF. In addition the alterations in protein expression related to A-T will be quantified by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based proteomic analysis of CSF from healthy individuals and A-T patients to determine candidate proteins (new biomarkers) which relative expression levels could be used as surrogate marker of disease progression.
This research is being done to better understand the causes of the disease Ataxia-Telangiectasia and, in the longer-term, develop new therapies for the disease using stem cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are a type of cells that can be made in the laboratory from cells in your body, such as blood cells or skin cells (fibroblasts). These stem cells can then be used for research purposes. For example, stem cells can be used to investigate how the mutation in ATM causes the actual symptoms of Ataxia-Telangiectasia. In addition, the stem cells can be used to screen for drugs that could be helpful to treat the disease or to develop new laboratory techniques to correct the mutation that causes Ataxia-Telangiectasia. where the mutation that causes the disease is corrected by the investigators. The stem cells generated in this study will not be used directly for patient therapy and therefore this research does not have a direct benefit to you. However, it will help advance our understanding of the disease and develop future therapies. Patients who enroll in this study will get all of the standard therapy they would get for their tumor whether or not they participate in this study. There is no extra or different therapy given. The study involves a one-time procedure (either blood collection or skin biopsy).
The project will collect information on the mapping of clinical ratings on a number of scales that are used in the assessment of patients with ataxias.
CoRDS, or the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford, is based at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It provides researchers with a centralized, international patient registry for all rare diseases. This program allows patients and researchers to connect as easily as possible to help advance treatments and cures for rare diseases. The CoRDS team works with patient advocacy groups, individuals and researchers to help in the advancement of research in over 7,000 rare diseases. The registry is free for patients to enroll and researchers to access. Visit sanfordresearch.org/CoRDS to enroll.
Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by gait disorders, neuromotor dysfunction, eye abnormalities and immune deficiency. AT patients are vulnerable to cancer and infection and usually die during their 2nd or 3rd decade due to these complications. The main cause of death is respiratory infections because these patients are known to have severe type of immunodeficiency. Consequently, pneumonia is the most common infection seen in AT patients, and is usually caused by S. pneumoniae. Therefore, a routine schedule of pneumococcal vaccine is highly recommended in AT cases where immunoglobulin replacement therapy was not already initiated. Until recently, AT patients were immunized with the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23, Pneumovax® Aventis Pasteur MSD). However, data have shown that they do not respond well to these vaccines. Recently, the Israeli Ministry of Health has approved the pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV7, Prevenar®, Wyeth Lederle) for AT patients of all ages. This conjugate vaccine is known to stimulate the immune system through a different mechanism and the response is expected to be higher. The approved Israeli schedule for immunization of AT patients includes children older than 2 years that are entitled to receive 2 doses of PCV7 (8 weeks apart) boosted by PPV23, eight weeks after the second dose of PCV7. Assessment of the antibody response of such pneumococcal vaccination protocol in AT patients has never been performed. The "Safra" Children's Hospital is the national multi-disciplinary center caring for AT patients. Approximately 50 patients from all over the country (including Jewish, Druze, Bedouin and other Muslim patients - 3 of whom are Palestinians) are followed in the clinic on a monthly basis. Approximately 20 AT patients are not receiving IVIG replacement therapy, therefore are entitled to receive pneumococcal vaccination as stated above (mean age 10.6, 3 -23 years, 3 less than 5 years) The aim of this study is to evaluate the responsiveness, determined by specific antibody production, of AT patients receiving this new vaccine protocol.
This study will evaluate the status of the growth hormone/ insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis in relation to growth failure, body weight and composition and neuroprotection in children with Ataxia telangiectasia (AT).
Rationale: Forced spirometry maneuvers are not routinely performed in patients with Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T), even though they suffer from respiratory illnesses. Objectives: To study the feasibility and validity of forced spirometry in A-T patients. Methods: Patients will perform spirometry during clinical visits. Parameters studied will be technical quality, relation to predicted values, age, pulmonary illness, body mass index, mutational status and mutation.