View clinical trials related to Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of intravitreal injections of ranibizumab in the treatment of AMD variants and other choroidal neovascularization (CNV) related conditions (Coats' disease, idiopathic perifoveal telangiectasia, retinal angiomatous proliferation, polypoidal vasculopathy, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, pathological myopia, multi-focal choroiditis, rubeosis iridis) using the incidence and severity of adverse events. Limited forms of treatment are available that limit the loss of visual acuity. However, the patients may not have any substantial improvement in acuity or function. Therefore there remains a significant unmet need for therapeutic options managing the neovascularization and its consequences. Lucentis (ranibizumab) injection will be considered as an attempt to control the growth of the abnormal vessels because of evidence suggesting that angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), play a role in the pathogenesis of neovascular non-AMD conditions. The rationale for the study design is as follows: A 0.5 mg dose of Lucentis (ranibizumab), a commercially available preparation that is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and labeled for intravitreal injection use for neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration will be used. In AMD variants and other CNV related conditions, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a role in the pathogenesis as in neovascular AMD. Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab delivers maximal concentration of the antibody fragment to the vitreous cavity with minimal systemic exposure. The dosing schedule, based on considerations of the half-life and the clinical response in patients with neovascularization suggests that a 1-month interval is optimal.
This study will characterize the gene mutations responsible for pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) and correlate them with disease manifestations in males and females. PXE is an inherited disorder that affects the connective tissue in some parts of the body. Calcium and other minerals are deposited in the connective tissue, causing changes in the skin, eyes, cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal system. Some effects of PXE can cause serious medical problems, while others have less impact. Symptoms often appear earlier and are more severe in females than in males, but there is no way to predict how the disorder will progress in any given individual. Candidates for this study are recruited through PXE International, an organization that provides patient support and supports research on the disease. The organization collects biological samples and medical information on patients and family members to help further research on the disease. Families that have samples from the patient, both parents, and at least one sibling may be eligible for this study. Grandparents and extended family members may be included in certain instances. Participants provide a blood sample, a sample of cells scraped from the inside of the cheek (buccal cells) and a medical history. The samples are analyzed for gene variants and the findings are correlated with disease signs and symptoms. ...