View clinical trials related to Immune System Diseases.
Filter by:This study will explore screening for immunodeficiency diseases (diseases that cause problems in fighting infections). There is no method at present to screen all babies at birth for immunodeficiency. However, babies with low numbers of T-cells-an important type of immune system cell-may be found by studying T-cell products called TRECs (T-cell receptor excision circles). This study will: - Collect samples from children with several different immunodeficiencies to find out which disorders can be found by screening dried blood spots for TRECs. - Try to develop screening tests based on other kinds of material derived from dried blood spots. Children with primary immunodeficiency and low numbers of T cells who have not had a bone marrow transplant may be eligible for this study. Participating children donate up to 5 ml (1 teaspoon) of blood. The sample may be collected when the child is having other blood tests. The liquid blood is analyzed to determine the number of T cells, and the rest of the blood is used to make dried blood spots on filter paper. The blood spots are used to develop screening tests for immunodeficiency. The blood spots and data about the child's age, diagnosis, and current medicines will be kept coded by diagnosis and a code number instead of the child's name.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether LJP 394 (abetimus sodium) is safe and effective in delaying and reducing renal flares in patients with lupus nephritis.
This study will evaluate immune function in people with a known or suspected immune disorder. It will determine participants immune response to vaccines by measuring blood antibody levels after vaccination. Patients enrolled in a NIH protocol involving immune reconstitution (bone marrow transplantation or gene therapy) for a known or suspected primary immune disorder may be eligible for this study. Participants may be asked to have more than one vaccine, based on their age, use of IVIG, past immunization history and underlying immune problem. The possible vaccinations include: Rabies vaccine Diphtheria and tetanus booster 23 valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine Pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine The diphtheria, tetanus, pneumococcus and rabies vaccines are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used routinely to protect against disease. Study participants will have a blood sample drawn before vaccination. The number of additional samples collected will vary according to the vaccines administered; 1 for rabies; 1 for tetanus; and 1 to 2 for the pneumococcal vaccines. Each sample will be up to 5 teaspoonfuls. Participation in the study may last up to a year, depending on the blood sampling scheduling
This pilot clinical trial studies total-body irradiation followed by cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil in treating patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) undergoing donor bone marrow transplant. Giving total-body irradiation (TBI) before a donor bone marrow transplant using stem cells that closely match the patient's stem cells, helps stop the growth of abnormal cells. It may also stop the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem cells. The donated stem cells may mix with the patient's immune cells and help destroy any remaining abnormal cells. Sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor can also make an immune response against the body's normal cells. Giving cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil after the transplant may stop this from happening.
The Hyper IgE Syndromes (HIES) are primary immunodeficiencies resulting in eczema and recurrent skin and lung infections. Autosomal dominant Hyper IgE syndrome (AD-HIIES; Job's syndrome) is caused by STAT3 mutations, and is a multi-system disorder with skeletal, vascular, and connective tissue manifestations. Understanding how STAT3 mutations cause these diverse clinical manifestations is critical to our complete understanding of bone metabolism, bronchiectasis, dental maturation, and atherosclerosis. Bi-allelic mutations in DOCK8 cause a combined immunodeficiency previously described as autosomal-recessive Hyper IgE syndrome. These individuals suffer from extensive viral infections as well as have a high incidence of malignancy and mortality. The pathogenesis of this disease and long-term natural history is being investigated. Therefore, we seek to enroll patients and families with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of HIES syndrome for extensive phenotypic and genotypic study as well as disease management. Patients will be carefully examined by a multidisciplinary team and followed longitudinally. Through these studies we hope to better characterize the clinical presentation of STAT3-mutated HIES, DOCK8 deficiency and other causes of the hyper IgE phenotype, and to be able to identify further genetic etiologies, as well as understand the pathogenesis of HIES. We seek to enroll 300 patients and 300 relatives.
Bereavement refers to the expected reactions and sadness associated with the loss of a loved one. It has been reported that the loss of a spouse is rated as the major life stressor among survivors of varying ages and diverse cultural backgrounds. Statistics have shown that in the United States over 800,000 men and women lose a spouse each year. A wide range of symptoms has been associated with bereavement including; depressed mood, tearfulness, sleep disturbances, and irrational behavior. Previous studies have shown that up to 50% of bereaved individuals can develop major depression. Bereavement has also been associated with dysfunction of the immune system. As a result, bereaved adults are more vulnerable to infection. However, the exact relationship between bereavement and immunity is uncertain. Researchers firmly believe that a relationship does exist between stress, more specifically bereavement, immunity, and the increased chance of dying following the loss of a long-term spouse. The objective of this study is to find possible links between bereavement, depression, and the immune system. This study will follow a group of elderly bereaved spouses and a group of elderly people who have not lost a long-term spouse. The group of bereaved individuals will be followed for approximately 13 months after the loss of their spouse and the group of controls will be followed for 13 months after entering the study. Researchers will make note of any clinical, biological, and immunological changes in any participants of the study.
The purposes of this study are to 1) identify the genes responsible for certain immune disorders, 2) learn about the medical problems they cause, and 3) learn how to predict who is likely to develop these disorders and what the risk is of passing them on to children. The immune system is the body s defense system. Some immune deficiencies impair a person s ability to fight infections; others render a person susceptible to allergies, or to autoimmune diseases such as lupus or arthritis, in which the immune cells (white blood cells) attack and destroy the body s own tissues. Patients with immune disorders known or suspected to have a genetic basis and their family members may enroll in this study. Eligibility will be determined by a review of the patient s medical records and family medical history. Participants will provide a small blood sample for genetic (DNA) and white blood cell analysis. Gene samples (but not white blood cells) may also be obtained by mouth brushing or skin biopsy. For the mouth brushing, a small brush is rubbed against the inside of the cheeks for 1 minute to wipe off some cells. For the skin biopsy, a small circle of skin (about 1/8 inch) is removed under local anesthetic. Pregnant women may be asked to provide a fetal sample (amniotic fluid cells or chorionic villus sample). All samples will be used for immune or genetic studies of the family s immune disorder. If test results show a specific genetic variation responsible for the family s immune disorder, a report will be sent to the patient s doctor or genetic counselor, who will discuss the implications for the family. NIH researchers and genetic counselors will also be available to explain results and answer questions. Information will not be available in the case of disorders that cannot yet be linked to a specific genetic abnormality. Information from this study will increase knowledge about the immune system and what causes immune deficiencies. Participants may also learn the underlying cause of an immune disorder that affects them or someone in their family information may be useful in guiding treatment and in making decisions regarding family planning.
This study will investigate how, why and under what conditions eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) become activated and will examine their function in immune reactions. Eosinophil counts often rise in response to allergies, asthma, and parasitic worm infections. They can also go up in uncommon autoimmune conditions and, rarely, in association with tumors. Elevated levels of these cells is called eosinophilia. Usually, eosinophilia causes no apparent symptoms, but in rare cases there may be local swelling and itching, allergic lung problems, heart disease or nerve damage caused by the release of toxic substances in these cells into body tissues. Patients 1 to 100 years of age with eosinophil counts greater than 750/ml or an abnormal accumulation of eosinophils in the skin or body tissues may be eligible for this study. All participants will have a thorough medical history, physical examination and blood tests. Depending on the person's age and symptoms, other diagnostic tests may be done, including specialized studies of the eye, lungs, skin, bone marrow, nerves or heart. This is not a treatment study, and no experimental treatments will be offered. Patients who require treatment will receive standard medical care. Certain other procedures may be requested solely for research purposes. All participants will be asked to donate extra blood for laboratory studies investigating how immune cells and other immune substances in the blood act to stimulate a rise in eosinophils. In addition, some participants may undergo one or more of the following: - Annual Follow-up evaluations - Physical examinations and blood tests to evaluate changes in the patient's condition and eosinophil counts over time. - Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration will be recommended during the initial evaluation, and in certain patients at other times when it is important to look directly at the newly developing cells in the bone marrow. For this procedure an area of skin and bone is anesthetized with xylocaine (an anesthetic similar to that used by dentists), and a very sharp needle is used to sample the bone marrow for evaluation. Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration can have side effects of pain and/or bleeding into the skin and soft tissues at the site of the procedure. Rarely the area at the biopsy site can become infected, and is treated with antibiotics. - Genetic testing: Some of the blood drawn from you as part of this study will be used for genetic tests. Genetic tests can help researchers study how health or illness is passed on to you by your parents or from you to your children. Any genetic information collected or discovered about you or your family will be confidential. - Leukapheresis (only patients 18 years and older) to collect large numbers of certain cells - In this procedure, whole blood is collected through a needle placed in an arm vein. The blood circulates through a machine that separates it into its components. The white cells are then removed and the rest of the blood is returned to the body, either through the same needle used to draw the blood or through a second needle placed in the other arm.
To determine if a reduction in morbidity and mortality from acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) can be achieved through use of T-cell depletion techniques without a counterbalancing increase in relapse of leukemia in patients receiving an unrelated donor marrow transplant.