Clinical Trial: The Role of Susceptibility to Thrombosis in the Pseudotumor Cerebri of Nephropathic Cystinosis: A Case-Control Study

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: The Role of Susceptibility to Thrombosis in the Pseudotumor Cerebri of Nephropathic Cystinosis: A Case-Control Study

Brief Summary:

This study will examine whether the tendency to have thrombosis, or the formation of blood clots inside blood vessels, has a role in the development of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC). PTC causes symptoms and signs of isolated elevated blood pressure in the cranium, or covering of the brain. The disorder can lead to significant, negative effects on the visual system. Increased pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid, that is, fluid around the brain, is a factor, but the cause of the disorder is not clear. There has been documentation of clustering of PTC within families. It suggests that potential genetic polymorphisms-abilities to take on different forms-may become evident after exposure to conditions known to trigger PTC.

Thrombosis comes about by interactions between genetic and environmental or acquired factors, or both, resulting in a blood clot at a specific time and location. Because the disease occurs in episodes, the interaction of the genetic and nongenetic risk factors is important. Cystinosis is a recessive disorder caused by deposits of cystine within the lysosomes of cells-that is, sac-like cell parts that contain various enzymes. Involvement of the kidneys remains the primary characteristic, eventually leading to renal failure. Of all of the risk factors that make it easier for blood clotting, a high level of a substance called homocysteine is of particular interest. Too much homocysteine in blood plasma is a common finding in patients with kidney failure, and it has been recently identified as an independent risk factor for diseases of the blood vessels.

Participants of all ages who meet the Dandy criteria for PTC may be eligible for this study. Pregnant women will be excluded. There will also be a control group of nephropathic cystinosis patients who do not have PTC.

Detailed Summary:

During the follow-up of cystinosis patients under protocol #78-HG-0093 "Use of Cysteamine in the Treatment of Cystinosis", we found that 6 of our NIH patients developed papilledema and were diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), whose occurrence has not been previously reported in cystinosis. The goal of this protocol is to identify the role of thrombosis susceptibility in the development of PTC in nephropathic cystinosis patients in view of our recent findings regarding genetic susceptibility to thrombosis in PTC in general. We propose a case-control study. A total of 9 nephropathic cystinosis patients who developed PTC and 9 control nephropathic cystinosis patients without PTC will be screened based upon a thrombosis susceptibility screening panel, including total homocysteine, protein C and S, antithrombin III, fibrinogen, Factor VIII, Factor IX, Factor XI levels, testing for PT, PTT, activated protein C resistance, antiphospholipid antibodies (ACA panel and Lupus AC) and screening for FV Leiden mutation, FV G1628A polymorphism, FV R2 allele, Prothrombin 20210 mutation and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T polymorphism in patients with severe homocysteinemia (greater than or equal to 100 micro mol/l).

We will compare the prevalence of the factors that lead to thrombosis susceptibility in the cases and controls.


Sponsor: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

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Information By: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

Dates:
Date Received: November 3, 2003
Date Started: October 30, 2003
Date Completion: July 18, 2008
Last Updated: January 24, 2017
Last Verified: July 18, 2008