Clinical Trial: Evaluation of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Evaluation of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to understand the biochemistry of different types of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD) and to determine appropriate outcome measures for future clinical treatment trials for LGMD. It is being conducted at two sites in the Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group (CINRG). It involves a one day clinical evaluation at a participating institution that will take approximately four to six hours, and will involve strength testing and muscle functional testing by a physical therapist, an evaluation by a physician, pulmonary function testing, a complete cardiac evaluation with electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) and echocardiogram (Echo), and involve two blood draws, one before the evaluation and one after the evaluation is complete. During the visit, the participant will be asked to fill out a couple of questionnaires asking questions about quality of life and activity limitations, as well as his/her understanding of their diagnosis with regards to etiology (or cause of their muscle disorder), genetics, and inheritance of their muscle disorder.

Detailed Summary:

Specific Aims:

Aim 1: Evaluate integrity of the extracellular matrix in patients with LGMD by measuring serum growth factors and cytokines and compare these to a disease control (BMD) and normal volunteers.

Aim 2: Measure growth factors and cytokines following medical evaluation and compare them to the baseline levels.

Aim 3: Discovery Aim for future multicenter clinical trials in LGMD. Aim 3A: Abstract medical records with particular emphasis on age of disease onset, initial clinical symptoms, progression and location of the muscular weakness, treatments attempted, and other medical complications. A review of the diagnostic testing performed will also be conducted.

Aim 3B: Perform complete clinical evaluation including anthropometric measures, evaluation of joint limitations, timed functional testing, muscle strength, pulmonary function, and a cardiac assessment.

Aim 3C: Determine patient understanding of diagnosis of LGMD and genetic testing results. A questionnaire will be generated that addresses the patient's understanding of his/her diagnosis as well as their understanding of genetic concepts of autosomal recessive inheritance, genes, molecular testing and implications for themselves as well as their family.

Aim 3D: Quality of Life (QOL) questionnaires will be administered. These will be used to identify functional limitations by the patients and compare those limitations with the clinical evaluation.

Study Description

Only one visit will be necessary for this study. The study visit includes:

  1. The measurement of growth factors (TGF-B, IGF-II) and cytokines (IL18, IL1A, and IL1B) between the different types of LGMD and BMD. [ Time Frame: 12 months ]
  2. The difference in the growth factors (TGF-B, IGF-II) and cytokines (IL18, IL1A, and IL1B) pre-evaluation and post-evaluation. [ Time Frame: 12 months ]


    3. Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

    Current Secondary Outcome:

    • Evaluation of surrogate and clinically relevant outcome measures in LGMD. [ Time Frame: 24 months ]
    • Quality of life questionnaires to correlate patient- perceived limitations in daily activities with the quantitative strength measurements and functional ability with timed testing. [ Time Frame: 24 months ]
    • Evaluation of patient understanding in their diagnosis and genetic etiology of their diagnosis. [ Time Frame: 24 months ]


    Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

    Information By: Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group

    Dates:
    Date Received: May 4, 2009
    Date Started: April 2009
    Date Completion:
    Last Updated: March 6, 2014
    Last Verified: March 2014