Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disorder that affects the motor neurons. SMA is caused by a mutation in a part of the DNA called the survival motor neuron (SMN1) gene, which normally produces a protein called SMN. Because of their gene mutation, people with SMA make less SMN protein, which results in the loss of motor neurons. SMA symptoms may be improved by increasing the levels of SMN protein. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a drug called a histone deacetylase inhibitor can increase SMN levels.

After undergoing a general medical and neurological evaluation, study participants will donate a blood sample. Researchers will use this sample to measure SMN levels. They will also isolate cells from the blood and treat the cells with various drugs that may increase SMN levels.

Condition
Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Further Study Details: 

Expected Total Enrollment:  171

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a currently untreatable, autosomal recessive motor neuron disease that is caused by deficiency of full-length survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. One promising therapeutic approach to SMA is to pharmacologically increase full-length SMN protein levels. Several compounds have been shown to increase SMN levels in immortalized cell lines derived from SMA patients. The objective of this study is to determine baseline SMN levels in primary peripheral blood cells of SMA patients and heterozygous carriers compared to unaffected controls and to investigate the effects in vitro of pharmacological compounds that are expected to increase SMN levels. It is anticipated that these studies will provide further evidence to support the use of one or more of these compounds in a clinical trial for SMA patients. The study population will include patients with genetically proven type I, II, or III SMA and their family members. Blood samples from anonymous, unaffected control patients will be obtained through the department of transfusion medicine (99-CC-0168). This is an investigative study that involves blood drawing only. No new therapy will be provided except the standard of care.

Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Diagnosis of SMA with genetically proven mutations in the SMN1 gene or unaffected family members (age greater than or equal to 2 years).
No exposure to valproic acid or any other HDAC inhibitors for a period of at least 2 weeks.
Written, informed consent (and assent, if applicable).
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
History of valproic acid or other HDAC inhibitor use within the past14 days.
History of bleeding disorder, which would make a blood draw unsafe.

Maryland
      National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), 9000 Rockville Pike,  Bethesda,  Maryland,  20892,  United States; Recruiting

Study ID Numbers:  030203; 03-N-0203
Record last reviewed:  May 18, 2004
Last Updated:  November 23, 2004
Record first received:  May 29, 2003
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00061607
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-04-08