NCT04394871Recruiting
Clinical Manifestations and Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Type 4 and Other Inherited Neurological Disorders of RNA Processing
An Observational Study to Assess Clinical Manifestations and Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Type 4, Other Inherited Neurological Disorders With RNA Processing Defects, and Other Neurological Diseases With a Gain of Function Mechanism.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 30 Sept 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 4 (ALS4) is an inherited motor neuron disease. People with ALS4 have a change in the amount of RNA and DNA that bind together. This binding of RNA with DNA forms units called R-loops. Researchers want to learn how R-loops are related to ALS4. To do this, they will study people with inherited neurological conditions that may affect R-loop levels. These include ALS4, progressive external opthalmoplegia with mitochondrial deletions (PEOB2), Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome (AGS), and ataxia and oculomotor apraxia type 2 (AOA2). Objective: To learn how the binding of RNA with DNA (R-loops) is related to neurological disease. Eligibility: People age 5 and older with ALS4, PEOB2, AGS, and AOA2. Healthy relatives and nonrelatives are also needed. Design: Participants may be screened with a review of x-rays and other medical records. Healthy relative and nonrelative participants will have 1 visit. All other participants will have 4 visits over 3 years. At visits, participants will undergo some or all of the following: Medical history Physical exam Tests of muscle strength and volume and physical function Blood tests Pregnancy test (for some females) Skin biopsy of forearm Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Some tests are optional. The MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to take pictures. Participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of the scanner. The scanner makes noise. They will get earplugs. The DEXA scan uses x-rays to take pictures. MRI and DEXA will be used to measure muscle, fat, and lean body mass. ...
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrollment
- 330 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 19 May 2020
- Start date
- 14 Dec 2020
- Primary completion date
- 25 Dec 2030
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- Diseases
- ALS (motor neurone disease)
- NCT number
- NCT04394871
What you commit to
- Study type: Observational
- Planned participants: 330
- From 14 Dec 2020 to the primary completion date, 25 Dec 2030
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other illness
- Patients with known claustrophobia, presence of pacemaker, ferromagnetic material in their body, or any other condition that would preclude MRI assessments
- History of a bleeding disorder
- Use of anticoagulants
- Disease control exclusion criteria:
- --Pregnancy
- Related, unaffected healthy control exclusion criteria:
- Diagnosis of neuromuscular disease or weakness on physical examination
- Pregnancy
- Note: An Adult Related, Unaffected Healthy Control who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from the lumbar puncture procedure:
- History of a bleeding disorder
- Use of anticoagulants
- Unrelated, healthy control exclusion criteria:
- Diagnosis of neuromuscular disease or weakness on physical examination
- Patients with known claustrophobia, presence of pacemaker, ferromagnetic material in their body, or any other condition that would preclude MRI assessments
- Pregnancy
- Note: An Adult Unrelated, Healthy Control who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from the lumbar puncture procedure:
- History of a bleeding disorder
- History of a bleeding disorder
Lab values
- PT/PTT values that are prolonged greater than or equal to 3 seconds from the upper limit of normal (including treatment with oral and parenteral anticoagulants)
- INR greater than or equal to 1.5, thrombocytopenia (\<70,000), or abnormal bleeding time or platelet dysfunction
- PT/PTT values that are prolonged greater than or equal to 3 seconds from the upper limit of normal (including treatment with oral and parenteral anticoagulants)
- INR greater than or equal to 1.5, thrombocytopenia (\<70,000), or abnormal bleeding time or platelet dysfunction
- PT/PTT values that are prolonged greater than or equal to 3 seconds from the upper limit of normal (including treatment with oral and parenteral anticoagulants)
- INR greater than or equal to 1.5, thrombocytopenia (\<70,000), or abnormal bleeding time or platelet dysfunction
- PT/PTT values that are prolonged greater than or equal to 3 seconds from the upper limit of normal (including treatment with oral and parenteral anticoagulants)
- INR greater than or equal to 1.5, thrombocytopenia (\<70,000), or abnormal bleeding time or platelet dysfunction
Other
- ALS4 RNA metabolism exclusion criteria:
- Pregnancy
- Note: An Adult RNA metabolism ALS4 Patient who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from the lumbar puncture procedure:
- Use of anticoagulants
- Gain of function exclusion criteria:
- -Pregnancy
- Note: An Adult Gain of Function patient who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from the lumbar puncture procedure:
- Use of anticoagulants
Criteria the registry did not label
- INCLUSION CRITERIA:
- ALS4 RNA metabolism inclusion criteria:
- Age 5 or above
- Genetic diagnosis of ALS4 (heterozygous mutation in SETX)
- Able to communicate well with the investigator, to understand and comply with the requirements of the study
- Capacity to consent (adults) or assent (pediatric subjects) to the study
- Disease control inclusion criteria:
- Age 5 or above
- Genetic diagnosis of RNA processing defect mutation (RNaseH1, RNaseH2, recessive mutations in SETX)
- Able to communicate well with the investigator, to understand and comply with the requirements of the study
- Capacity to consent (adults) or assent (pediatric subjects) to the study
- Related, unaffected healthy control inclusion criteria:
- Age 5 or above
- Family history (first, second, or third degree relative) of RNA processing defect mutation (RNaseH1, RNaseH2, heterozygous or recessive mutations in SETX)
- Able to communicate well with the investigator, to understand and comply with the requirements of the study
- Capacity to consent (adults) or assent (pediatric subjects) to the study
- Unrelated, healthy control inclusion criteria:
- Age 5 or above
- Able to communicate well with the investigator, to understand and comply with the requirements of the study
- Capacity to consent (adults) or assent (pediatric subjects) to the study
- Gain of function inclusion criteria:
- Age 5 or above
- Genetic diagnosis of mutation resulting in a gain of function mechanism (for example, heterozygous mutations in SETX or heterozygous mutations in KCC3)
- Able to communicate well with the investigator, to understand and comply with the requirements of the studyCapacity to consent (adults) or assent (pediatric subjects) to the study
- Capacity to consent (adults) or assent (pediatric subjects) to the study
Age in the registry: 5 years to 120 years · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Bethesda | United States | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.