Active clinical trials for "Niemann-Pick Diseases"

This study will evaluate clinical and laboratory tests that might be useful in determining if an investigational drug can slow the progression of Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C (NPC), a genetic disorder that results in progressive loss of nervous system function. The study will: 1) look for a clinical or biochemical marker that can be used as a measure of response to treatment, and 2) define the rate of progression of biochemical marker abnormalities in a group of NPC patients who will later be invited to enroll in a treatment trial. Patients of any age with NPC may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo the following procedures every 6 months during 4- to 5-day admissions at the NIH Clinical Center. Medical evaluation, including medical history, physical exam, neurological exam, neuropsychometric evaluation, and blood and urine tests. Lumbar puncture (spinal tap): A sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord, is obtained for study. After administration of a local anesthetic, a small needle is inserted in the space between the bones in the lower back where the CSF circulates below the spinal cord. A small amount of fluid is collected through the needle. Eye exam and eye movement study: The pupils of the eye are dilated to examine the structures of the eyes. For the eye movement study a special contact lens is placed on the eye and the patient looks at a series of target light spots moving on a screen. Hearing tests. Electroretinography (in patients who can cooperate with the test) to measure the function of the retina. Before the test, the patient's pupils are dilated and an electrode (small silver disk) is taped to the forehead. The patient sits in a dark room for 30 minutes and then a special contact lens is placed on one eye after it has been numbed with drops. The contact lens senses small electrical signals generated by the retina when lights flash. During the ERG recording, the eye is stimulated with flashes of light projected inside a hollow sphere. After the test, a full eye exam is done and photographs of the retina are taken. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This test uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the brain and obtain information about brain chemicals. The patient lies on a table that can slide in and out of the scanner (a narrow cylinder), wearing earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning process. Patients who cannot remain still in the scanner may be sedated for the test. Psychometric testing: Patients complete questionnaires. Photographs of the patient may be taken for use in teaching sessions or scientific presentations or publications, with the patient's consent. Patients may be recognizable, but are not identified by name. Pregnancy test in all female patients over 10 years of age at the beginning of each admission to the Clinical Center.

Background: Neurocognitive disorders affect how the brain uses oxygen. They may affect mental development in children. These disorders can be studied with imaging scans that use radiation; however, these methods are not ideal for research on children. Two technologies-functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS)-use light to detect changes in brain activity. These methods are safer, and they can be used in a more relaxed setting. In this natural history study, researchers want to find out whether fNIRS and DCS can be a good way to study people with neurocognitive disorders. Objective: To find out whether fNIRS and DCS can be useful in measuring brain activity in people with neurocognitive disorders. Eligibility: People aged 6 months or older with neurocognitive disorders. These can include Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1); creatine transporter deficiency (CTD); Smith Lemli Opitz syndrome (SLOS); juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN3 disease); and Pheland-McDermid (PMS) syndrome. Healthy volunteers are also needed. Design: Participants will have a physical exam. They will have tests of their memory and thinking. Participants will sit in a quiet room for the fNIRS and DCS tests. A snug cap (like a cloth swim cap) will be placed on their head. The cap has lights and sensors. Another sensor will be placed on their forehead. Participants will perform tasks on a computer. This testing will take 45 to 60 minutes. The tests will be repeated within 1 to 4 weeks. Participants will be asked to return for repeat tests 1 year later....

Background: Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects mainly the brain, liver, and spleen but also other parts of the body. There is no cure for NPC, and symptoms only get worse over time. Symptoms can include seizures, difficulty moving or talking, or dementia. But symptoms can vary among different people with the disease. Some may have seizures, while others do not, for example. Some people begin showing symptoms in childhood; in others, symptoms may not appear until they are adults. Researchers want to learn more about why NPC affects people differently. This natural history study will gather data from people with NPC in order to understand more about the disease and how it affects the body. Objective: This study will create the first and largest database about NPC. Eligibility: People of any age who have NPC. Design: Participants will have blood drawn from a vein. This will happen only once. The blood will be used to analyze the participants DNA. The participants medical records will be reviewed. The study team will collect data on participants NPC diagnosis and symptoms; they will record how long participants have had each symptom. The study team will also collect data on each participants age, sex, race, height, weight, medications, and other test results. The study team will communicate with participants. They will discuss the study and answer any questions. Participants will receive up to $190.

ScreenPlus is a consented, multi-disorder pilot newborn screening program implemented in conjunction with the New York State Newborn Screening Program that provides families the option to have their newborn(s) screened for a panel of additional conditions. The study has three primary objectives: 1) define the analytic and clinical validity of multi-tiered screening assays for a flexible panel of disorders, 2) determine disease incidence in an ethnically diverse population, and 3) assess the impact of early diagnosis on health outcomes. Over a five-year period, ScreenPlus aims to screen 175,000 infants born in nine high birthrate, ethnically diverse pilot hospitals in New York for a flexible panel of 14 rare genetic disorders. This study will also involve an evaluation of the Ethical, Legal and Social issues pertaining to NBS for complex disorders, which will be done via online surveys that will be directed towards ScreenPlus parents who opt to participate and qualitative interviews with families of infants who are identified through ScreenPlus.

The study of splenomegaly, and the follow-up of splenectomized patients, is one of the causes of referral of these patients to pediatric gastroenterology and oncohematology clinics, and adult internal medicine and hematology. The study and management of splenomegaly is well described among the different medical specialties to which these patients arrive. After the application of the different algorithms and the different studies that are carried out, these splenomegaly are identified as being of hepatic, infectious, inflammatory, congestive, hematological origin and primary causes. Despite these studies of splenomegaly, approximately 10-15% of these patients still remain undiagnosed. Several studies have suggested that there is an increased frequency of MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance) and/or multiple myeloma (MM) among Gaucher patients. Regarding ASMD (Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency), few studies have been published but it seems the 21% of patient with ASMD has MGUS and 15% ASMD patients have MGUS. Moreover, patients with MGUS and Gaucher disease (GD) are at increased risk of developing MM. The objective of the present study is to increase the diagnostic sensitivity of these unknown splenomegalys, or unknown splenomegaly patients with MGUS or multiple myeoloma who remain in consultations, using the usual diagnostic clinical procedures of unknown splenomegaly and unknown splenectomy patients, where we include the extraction of a blood sample for dry drop test (DBS), where the determination of the enzymatic/genetic activity will be carried out for Gaucher disease (GD) and acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) , analysis of LisoGl1 and LisoSM.

The study of splenomegaly, and the follow-up of splenectomized patients, is one of the causes of referral of these patients to pediatric gastroenterology and oncohematology clinics, and adult internal medicine and hematology. It has been described that 0.3% of hospital admissions is for this reason. The study and management of splenomegaly is well described among the different medical specialties to which these patients arrive. After the application of the different algorithms and the different studies that are carried out, these splenomegaly are identified as being of hepatic, infectious, inflammatory, congestive, hematological origin and primary causes. Despite these studies of splenomegaly, approximately 10-15% of these patients still remain undiagnosed. The objective of the present study is to increase the diagnostic sensitivity of these unknown splenomegalys, or unknown splenomegaly patients who remain in consultations, using the usual diagnostic clinical procedures of unknown splenomegaly and unknown splenectomy patients, where the investigators include the extraction of a blood sample for dry drop test (DBS), where the determination of the enzymatic/genetic activity will be carried out for Gaucher disease (GD) and acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) , analysis of LisoGl1 and LisoSM.

Primary Objective: To assess prevalence of Gaucher disease (GD) diagnosed in pediatric patients presenting with unexplained splenomegaly (SMG) after exclusion of first intention-diagnoses (e.g. portal hypertension, haematological malignancy, hemolytic anemia, infection) based on clinical examination and routine biological tests (full blood count, reticulocytes, liver tests, abdominal ultrasound, Coombs test and Epstein Barr virus serology). Secondary Objectives: To describe the rate of each identified disease category and the rate of patients with no final diagnosis at the end of the study in pediatric patients with unexplained SMG after exclusion of first intention diagnoses To describe the characteristics (clinical, lab, genetics) of all pediatric patients included in the study and to describe the characteristics subdivided by identified disease category and absence of final diagnosis at the end of the study

This is a multicenter, multinational, open-label study of VTS-270 to evaluate the long-term safety and tolerability of VTS-270 (2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin) in participants transitioning from Study VTS301 with Neurologic Manifestations of Niemann-Pick Type C1 (NPC1) Disease.

The primary objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate the ability to achieve and sustain donor engraftment in patients with lysosomal and peroxisomal inborn errors of metabolism undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT).

Background: For people who have Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1), cholesterol and other fats have trouble moving out of liver and other tissue cells. This makes the cells sick. Researchers want to find out if a drug called VTS-270 can help. Objective: To test if VTS-270 is safe and effective in treating chronic liver disease associated with NPC1. Eligibility: People ages 3-60 with NPC1 Design: Participants may be screened by phone or under another protocol. Participants will have visits once a month for 12 months. If they have intrathecal injections, the study may last 15 months or more. The first visit will last about 5 days. Others will last 2-3 days. Participants will get VTS-270 injected into a vein at each visit. They can also choose to have intrathecal injections. These are like spinal taps. Some visits will also include: Physical exam Urine tests Blood tests. A small tube or needle will be inserted into the participants vein to collect blood. The small tube will also be used to give the VTS-270. Hearing tests: For one test, participants will have electrodes taped to their head. These will record brain waves. Breathing tests Ultrasound of abdomen: Sounds waves will take pictures of the participant s body. Chest x-ray: This is a picture of the lungs.