Active clinical trials for "Connective Tissue Diseases"

CoRDS, or the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford, is based at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It provides researchers with a centralized, international patient registry for all rare diseases. This program allows patients and researchers to connect as easily as possible to help advance treatments and cures for rare diseases. The CoRDS team works with patient advocacy groups, individuals and researchers to help in the advancement of research in over 7,000 rare diseases. The registry is free for patients to enroll and researchers to access. Visit sanfordresearch.org/CoRDS to enroll.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious condition characterized by a mean pulmonary artery pressure >=25mmHg on right heart catheterization (RHC). Despite advances in PH care, outcomes are still sub-optimal and further research is required into the pathobiology of the disease and development of biomarkers that can guide clinical care. The investigators are establishing a biobank to collect samples (blood, urine, stool) from patients with pulmonary hypertension, patients at high risk for pulmonary hypertension, healthy controls, and patients undergoing right heart catheterization. Specimens will be stored for future investigations.

Currently investigators do not have diagnostic and prognostic markers for SSc which almost always starts with a vascular disease (Raynaud's disease) isolated for several years. The primary purpose is to highlight discriminating metabolic profiles depending on the characteristics of the disease, allowing early diagnosis of SSc at the onset of vascular lesions, by comparing the profiles of SSc beginners (<3 years) to established forms (> 3 years). Secondary purposes: Prognosis: to study the metabolomics profile of SSc when a visceral complication occurs Diagnosis: to compare the metabolomics profile of SSc to undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCDT), Raynaud's disease (RD), vascular disease (VD) and healthy controls Exploratory: to compare the metabolomics profile of blood, urine and skin of SSc patients

We propose to acquire data and blood samples on all patients being cared for by the Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) program. Additionally, we will collect data and blood samples from a control group for comparator purposes. In doing so, we will be able to describe the "phenotypic" expression of these diseases.

Despite a number of prospective studies already initiated in the past years, the current epidemiology and course of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) is still not well defined, particularly regarding its prevalence, incidence and the management of a broad spectrum of disease presentations. Major challenges include the identification of patients with progressive disease, the appropriate time point of therapeutic intervention and the underlying driver of disease (inflammatory or pro-fibrotic stimulus or both?). To address these issues in Western Austria, a progressive registry of patients with CTD exploring routine clinical and pathophysiological characteristics of ILD and PH will be conducted. This multidisciplinary, prospective and observational registry aims to collect comprehensive clinical data on incidence, prevalence and course of disease regarding all PH and ILD presentations in a real-world setting.

Background: Elastic fibers affect parts of the body that stretch repetitively, such as the skin, blood vessels, and lungs. Researchers want to use medical and research tests in patients with already identified changes in a set of connective tissue genes to better understand diseases related to elastic fibers. Objective: To learn more about the impact of underlying changes in a set of connective tissue genes on people s overall health. Eligibility: People ages 2-100 who have had a gene test that identified a change in a gene that affects elastic fibers. Initial emphasis will be placed on people with changes in ELN, LOX, MFAP4, FBLN5 and EFEMP2. Design: Participants will visit the NIH for several days to perform tests that will help researchers learn more about how changes in connective tissue genes affect a person s health. They will also have clinicians take their medical history and physical exam. Optional tests include giving blood samples, hair strand, urine, and/or saliva samples. They may have a cheek swab or skin biopsy. Their genes may be studied. Their cells may be grown in a laboratory. Participants may have photographs taken of the face and body. They will receive exams by a medical team with experience in connective tissue disease. They may have a dental exam or eye exams and with photography. During the eye exam, pictures may be taken of the blood vessels in the eyes. If this occurs, they will get dye through an intravenous (IV) line in an arm vein. They will also have medical tests to check the health of tissues that may be affected by these connective tissue genes. Participants may have lung function tests. They may have a six-minute walk test. They may complete a treadmill or bike stress test. Their heart s electrical activity may be recorded. Participants may have X-rays and ultrasounds. They may have a DEXA scan to measure bone density. They may have CT, MRI or other imaging scans. Some of these tests require the participant to get a contrast fluid via IV. Participants may have a skin elasticity test using a suction cup that pulls lightly on their skin. Participants may wear blood pressure cuffs while probes are placed on their skin. The tests will be chosen for each individual based on their specific gene change and no person is expected to complete all tests. Participation will last 3-5 days.

Connective tissue disease (CTD) is a common group of autoimmune diseases, mainly including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) , and so on. APS is caused by autoimmune disorders that cause recurrent miscarriage, thrombosis, and thrombocytopenia, and often secondary to connective tissue diseases such as SLE. Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is currently considered to be an independent disease in the classification of CTD. And women of childbearing age who suffer UCTD is more common than that in other definite CTDs. Therefore, the impact of the disease flare and the influence of medicine on pregnancy and lactation are important for these patients who may suffer high-risk of abnormal pregnance.

The purposes of this study are (I), to evaluate various screening methods for their ability to predict and to confirm Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) in scleroderma patients, and (II) to evaluate the incidence of PH (i.e. the number of new cases per year) in scleroderma patients.

The first objective of this protocol is to assess the tolerability and safety of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in patients with connective tissue disease related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD).

This study is a basket trial designed to establish safety, tolerability and efficacy of MHV370 in Sjögren's Syndrome (SjS) and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD).