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Mitochondrial Biomarkers in Huntington's Disease

Completed
Conditions
Huntington Disease
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: lumbar puncture
Registration Number
NCT04515550
Lead Sponsor
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to discover a panel of mitochondrial metabolomics biomarkers for Huntington's disease.

Detailed Description

This investigator-initiated, single-site longitudinal study seeks to assess the utility of mitochondrial metabolomics -- panels of small molecules that affect mitochondrial function -- to diagnose pre-symptomatic, pre-manifest, and symptomatic Huntington's disease and serve as biomarkers for HD severity and progression. It also seeks to demonstrate that this novel biomarker in the blood has comparable value to the same analysis in spinal fluid. This research study involves 3-4 visits over 18 months. Forty volunteers with HD and 25 volunteers without HD will be included. Volunteers who have HD will have a physical examination and blood draw at each study visit. Some participants will also volunteer for optional lumbar puncture.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
27
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 20 to 85
  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment score >10
  • HD subjects had onset of HD symptoms after the age of 20
  • HD subjects with Diagnostic Confidence Level (DCL) of 0-3 (pre-symptomatic or pre-manifest) must have at least 40 CAG repeats on one HTT allele
  • HD subjects with Diagnostic Confidence Level (DCL) of 4 (manifest) must have at least 36 CAG repeats on one HTT allele
  • Controls are asymptomatic without family history of HD or have <36 CAG repeats on both HTT alleles with family history of HD
Exclusion Criteria
  • HD subjects who did not already have genetic testing are excluded from this study
  • Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant during the study
  • Investigational drugs within 3 months of screening visit
  • Alcohol or illicit drug abuse or dependence
  • Other genetic or neurological disorders
  • Other medical or psychiatric illness that in the investigator's judgement will prevent ability to tolerate or undergo study procedures
  • For those volunteering for lumbar puncture (LP), bleeding disorders or excessive bleeding, anticoagulation, aspirin if unable to safely stop taking it at least 7 days prior to LP, other antiplatelet medications, inability to tolerate LP, allergy to local anesthetic or chlorhexidine, major lumbar spine deformity, low platelets or abnormal coagulation factors PT/APTT

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Huntington's disease (HD)lumbar puncturepeople with HD
Controls without HDlumbar puncturepeople without HD
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) and UHDRS sub-sectionsAt baseline, 9 months, and 18 months

This is a questionnaire and neurological examination. Lower values are better than higher values.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)At baseline, 9 months, and 18 months

Zero to 30 point cognitive scale. Higher values are better than lower values.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

🇺🇸

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

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