Active clinical trials for "Immune System Diseases"

Cognitive impairment is seen in about half of patients with relapsing remitting MS. Our knowledge about long term development of cognitive performance under natalizumab therapy is limited. We want to demonstrate with this study that patients treated with ntz improve in neurocognitive tests over the long term.

The purpose of the clinical trial is to gain a more substantial understanding of bronchial inflammation in patients with severe primary immundeficiency under immunoglobulin therapy. It is intended to characterize the systemical such as the bronchial inflammation (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, TNF-a, NFkB, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta, TLR2 und TLR4)in children with severe immune deficiency in order to generate new treatment strategies based on the results. The methods being used for characterization purposes within this trial include specific lung function tests ( spirography, bodyplethysmographie w. helium) such as the analysis of eNO and eCO. Furthermore, sputum and serum samples are being analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR),(qRT-PCR) and by cytometric bead assay (CBA). Components of the innate immune system (mannose-binding protein, TLR recognition proteins and surfactant proteins) are genetically determined from sputum or blood respectively. In the conduct of the study the investigators will retrospectively and systematically evaluate the available high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) studies of affected patients.

A majority of patients with multiple sclerosis initially presents with a single demyelinating event, e.g. in the optic nerves, brain, brainstem or spinal cord, referred to as a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Not all patients with CIS get a relapse and develop multiple sclerosis but in those patients who do, irreversible damage of the central nervous system, e.g. axonal damage, is already detectable in that early stage of disease. Early initiation of immunomodulatory therapy is crucial for patients with clinically isolated syndrome who are at high risk for the development of multiple sclerosis. Vice versa identification of low risk patients could help to avoid an unnecessary therapy. In this prospective observational study we want to follow up patients with CIS and early multiple sclerosis over a period of four years and obtain clinical, laboratory and MRI - data in order to identify risk factors for relapses, prognostic factors and therapy response markers.

Despite a large and growing body of knowledge concerning the diagnosis of temporal arteritis, this potentially crippling disease still requires pathological diagnosis in practically every case. It seems likely that a correctly estimated clinical probability could help in evaluating imaging results in a way that might safely obviate temporal biopsy in a large segment of suspect cases. With this aim in view, we intend to identify useful clinical items and integrate them in an appropriate diagnostic pathway.

Primary Objective is to evaluate the influence of psychosocial interventions in the treatment of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus by measuring the connection between these interventions to quality of life and to metabolic control. Secondary Objective is to provide an opportunity, through quality of life (QOL) questionnaires, for enhanced communication between the patient, family and diabetes care team and also an opportunity to resolve negative issues.

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that develops rapidly and can cause death. Some patients experience anaphylaxis is association with exercise, a disorder called exercise-induced anaphylaxis. A subset of patients with unexplained anaphylaxis, especially those with hypotension during the anaphylactic episodes, have been shown to have abnormal, clonal populations of a certain cell type, mast cells, in the bone marrow. This has been described in at least one patient with exercise-induced anaphylaxis. The investigators would like review the findings in a group of patients with exercise-induced anaphylaxis who have undergone evaluation for the presence of abnormal, clonal mast cells.

The Antiphospholipid Syndrome is an immune disease where the presence of antibodies directed against cell membrane phospholipids (antiphospholipid antibodies) can cause an hypercoagulable state that causes thrombosis and obstetric complications (miscarriages, stillbirths). Since 1999 the Sapporo Criteria for Antiphospholipid Syndrome diagnosis includes the development of fetal growth restriction (diagnosed postpartum), but this was done without solid evidence of a relation between the two or using the most common form of fetal growth restriction diagnosis (ultrasound). Our study will try to add information to this particular point.

To study the genomics with cell cycle and lymphocyte differentiation in disease, remission and relapse of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Then correlate these data with age, white cell count, cytogenetic changes, response to the chemotherapy and prognosis.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of musculoskeletal ultrasound and power Doppler in early therapy monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Evaluate the autoantibodies, such as glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), tyrosine phosphatase (IA-2 or ICA125), islet autoantibodies (IAA) and other associated autoimmune autoantibodies: microsomal antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies, gastric parietal cell antibodies in patients with type 1 DM.