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Laryngeal DiseaseNCT00001552

Characteristics of Idiopathic Familial Voice Disorders

An observational study of Laryngeal Disease and Spastic Dysphonia, run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at 4 sites in 2 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose the study is to determine the genetic causes of specific voice disorders that run in families. Researchers are particularly interested in two conditions; 1. Spasmodic dysphonia 2. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
How many people
270 participants
Where
4 sitesin 2 countries
Study dates
22 May 1996to 13 Nov 2009
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Symptoms present during speech and not apparent at rest,
  • Symptoms less evident during whisper, singing or falsetto.
  • Symptoms become worse with prolonged speaking, practice or anxiety.
  • Reflexive and emotional aspects of voice function are unaffected, such as coughing, laughter or crying.

Who cannot join

  • Any patient with a history of airway obstruction will be excluded from the study.
  • Structural abnormalities affecting the larynx such as vocal fold nodules, polyps, carcinoma, cysts, contact ulcers, or inflammation (laryngitis).
  • Reduction in vocal fold movement range during non-speech tasks such as whistling which would suggest either paralysis or paresis, joint abnormality or neoplasm.
  • No smokers or tobacco users will be included in the study.
  • Subjects with history of a psychiatric disorder, under the care of a psychiatrist, or on medications for treatment of a psychiatric disorder will be excluded from the study. Examples of psychiatric disorders to be excluded are: somatoform disorders, conversion disorders, currently under treatment for a major depression, or a history of schizophrenia or a bipolar disorder. However, a history of a previous episode of a minor reactive depression would not exclude a person from participation.

Trial locations and contacts

4 sites in 2 countries.

4 sites in 2 countries

United States2 sites
  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892

  • University of Iowa

    Iowa City, Iowa, 52242

Other trials in United States

United Kingdom2 sites
  • Kennedy-Galton Centre Medical & Community Genetics

    Harrow

  • Institute of Cancer Research

    Sutton

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

The purpose the study is to determine the genetic causes of specific voice disorders that run in families. Researchers are particularly interested in two conditions;

  1. Spasmodic dysphonia
  2. Vocal fold paralysis

Familial vocal fold paralysis can be a life-threatening disorder that can cause difficulty with vocal fold movement for breathing and voice and sometimes for swallowing. Studies are ongoing at the NIH to better understand the pathophysiology and to relate it to the genetic pattern of inheritance. Families are being recruited to participate in these studies and are being provided with further information on the disorder and genetic counseling if desired. Physician referral is requested for affected members of families with vocal fold paralysis of an unknown cause occurring over at least 2 generations. All travel, lodging, examination and counseling costs are covered for both affected and unaffected members of a family. Examinations include: voice, laryngeal, neurological, electrodiagnostic testing, genetic counseling, and radiological studies....

Read the detailed description

OBJECTIVE:

Our purpose is to examine for evidence of genetic risk factors associated with idiopathic laryngeal motor control disorders. During the conception of the protocol, we were interested in investigating the pattern of inheritance of familial voice disorders, specifically spasmodic dysphonia and tremor. Interestingly, the initial search for families revealed several large families with idiopathic vocal fold paralysis with some family members experiencing symptoms of spasmodic dysphonia. During subsequent years, the research has focused on inherited forms of vocal fold paralysis in an attempt to determine the relationship between the laryngeal motor control disorder and other associated neuropathies, and to determine the existence of a specific genetic abnormality. These idiopathic laryngeal motor control disorders were one manifestation of peripheral neuropathies or may be an isolated disorder with only laryngeal involvement. Subsequently, we have shifted our emphasis back to the identification of genetic risk factors for spasmodic dysphonia.

Hypothesis 1) Familial risk factors for spasmodic dysphonia result in a particular phenotype and genotype.

Hypothesis 2) Environmental risk factors may differentiate between affected and unaffected members of families with spasmodic dysphonia.

Hypothesis 3) Whole genome screening will identify SNPs associated with the occurrence of spasmodic dysphonia.

STUDY POPULATION:

Families with multiple members affected with spasmodic dysphonia, vocal fold paralysis, and tremor will be ascertained.

DESIGN:

A pedigree will be developed via a questionnaire and voice history. Affected and unaffected family members will be examined to determine the presence and extent of their laryngeal motor control disorder. Affected family members will also undergo neurological examination and nerve and muscle studies to determine the loci of their pathology. A genotype will be developed for affected and unaffected family members, through DNA testing of blood samples.

OUTCOME MEASURES:

This is a natural history study characterizing the phenotype and genotype of idiopathic laryngeal motor control disorders.

Keywords
Spasmodic Dysphonia, Pedigree, Vocal Fold Paralysis, Voice Disorder
Medical subject headings
Laryngeal Diseases, Dysphonia, Voice Disorders

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
  2. Study start22 May 1996
  3. Primary completion13 Nov 2009

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Enrolment
270 participants
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00001552
Sponsor's protocol ID
960089
Other IDs
96-N-0089
Status last verified
13 Nov 2009
First submitted
3 Nov 1999
Last updated
2 Jul 2017
Results posted
No

Publications

  • Conway D, Bain PG, Warner TT, Davis MB, Findley LJ, Thompson PD, Marsden CD, Harding AE. Linkage analysis with chromosome 9 markers in hereditary essential tremor. Mov Disord. 1993 Jul;8(3):374-6. doi: 10.1002/mds.870080324.

    PubMed 8341306
  • Durr A, Stevanin G, Jedynak CP, Penet C, Agid Y, Brice A. Familial essential tremor and idiopathic torsion dystonia are different genetic entities. Neurology. 1993 Nov;43(11):2212-4. doi: 10.1212/wnl.43.11.2212.

    PubMed 8232931
  • Dyck PJ, Litchy WJ, Minnerath S, Bird TD, Chance PF, Schaid DJ, Aronson AE. Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with diaphragm and vocal cord paresis. Ann Neurol. 1994 May;35(5):608-15. doi: 10.1002/ana.410350515.

    PubMed 8179305

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Laryngeal Disease and Spastic Dysphonia, run by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at 4 sites in 2 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jul 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 4 sites in United States, United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00001552, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jul 2017.

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