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ExudatiaonNCT00106756

Clinical and Genetic Studies of Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy

An observational study of Exudatiaon and Avascular Retina, run by National Eye Institute (NEI) at 2 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

This study will examine the extent of the vision problem in familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) and try to identify the genes responsible for this hereditary eye disorder. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 1 year and older
Conditions the study is for
Exudatiaon, Avascular Retina, Retina Fold
How many people
105 participants
Where
2 sitesin 2 countries
Study dates
18 Mar 2005to 1 Nov 2006
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 1 year and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • The patients must carry the clinical diagnosis of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. Whenever a patient fulfills the above requirement additional family members can be included in the study as participants. Subjects of any ethnic background, gender, age, sexual orientation, or health status will be included.

Who cannot join

  • Prematurity and supplemental oxygen use at bith can cause a clinical picture similar to familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. The existence of either of those factors in the past medical history of a patient will necessitate exclusion from the study. Since fluorescein angiography is crucial for the correct diagnosis of the syndrome, patients with a previous allergic reaction to fluorescein dye will also be excluded. Patients inability or unwillingness to provide a blood sample is an exclusion criterion as well.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 2 countries.

2 sites in 2 countries

Canada1 site
  • Izaak Walton Killam Grace Health Centre

    Halifax

Other trials in Canada

United Kingdom1 site
  • St. James University

    Leeds

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy Clinical and Molecular Studies

This study will examine the extent of the vision problem in familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) and try to identify the genes responsible for this hereditary eye disorder. Patients with FEVR have incomplete formation of blood vessels in the periphery of the retina (the inner part of the eye that is responsible for vision). As a result, abnormal vessels can form and retinal detachment and vitreous bleeding can occur, causing significant vision loss. Vision loss usually begins in childhood, gradually worsening over time. Some patients eventually become blind.

Patients of all ages with FEVR and their family members may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures:

  • Family history, especially regarding eye disease. A family tree is drawn.
  • Blood draw for genetic testing related to FEVR.
  • Eye examination to assess visual acuity (eye chart test) and eye pressure, and to examine pupils, lens, retina and eye movements. The pupils are dilated with drops for this examination.
  • Fluorescein angiography to evaluate the eye's blood vessels. A yellow dye is injected into an arm vein and travels to the blood vessels in the eyes. Pictures of the retina are taken using a camera that flashes a blue light into the eye. The pictures show if any dye has leaked from the vessels into the retina, indicating possible blood vessel abnormality.
  • Patients affected with FEVR will also undergo DEXA scan to look for osteoporosis. X-rays are used to scan the hip, forearm and spine for bone density measurements.
Read the detailed description

Background: Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a rare hereditary disorder of the retinal vasculature characterized by abrupt cessation of the growth of peripheral retinal capillaries. FEVR seems to exhibit significant phenotypic and genotypic variability but since this is a rare disease the clinical and genetic characteristics of the disease have not been extensively studied so far. Correlation of phenotypes with certain genotypes have not been made yet. Clinical findings can vary from very mild disease with only subtle changes of the peripheral retinal vasculature without symptoms to severe disease with retinal neovascularization, retinal exudates, vitreoretinal adhesions, peripheral vitreous opacities, retinal folds and tractional retinal detachment. The condition remarkably resembles retinopathy of prematurity but affected patients do not have a history of prematurity or supplementary oxygen use.

The disorder is usually inherited as an autosomal dominant trait but few families show x-linked or autosomal recessive inheritance. A significant number of patients with autosomal dominant FEVR show linkage to 11q13-q23 (EVR1). Two genes in this locus have recently been shown to be associated with the disease. FZD4, the gene that encodes for Frizzled-4, the Wnt receptor, is one of them. It has been estimated by recent studies that 20-30% of patients with autosomal dominant FEVR show mutations in FZD4. LRP5 (low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5), a Wnt co-receptor, was recently shown to be mutated in approximately 15% of cases. One large autosomal dominant pedigree has shown linkage to 11p13-p12 locus (EVR3) and this gene has not yet been identified. It now becomes obvious that more genes are associated with the autosomal dominant type of the disease. Most of the patients with the x-linked type have mutations in the Norrie disease gene (EVR2). The autosomal recessive form of the disease is much rarer and linkage studies have not yet been performed.

Aims: The objectives of this protocol are to study the clinical characteristics of FEVR, and also to assist in identifying the location and sequence of corresponding genes. Since one of the genes so far identified, LRP5, is also causing the osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome, an inherited disorder with severe osteoporosis, we would also like to know if FEVR patients, especially those with mutations in LRP5 also have some degree of osteoporosis. Localization and identification of the responsible gene will help us understand the pathogenesis of FEVR and possibly the mechanism of retinal angiogenesis and lead to potential treatments.

Methods: Patients as well as available family members are to be evaluated by physical examination and fluorescein angiography, in order to clinically characterize the inheritance pattern in each family. Blood will be obtained by all participating subjects for the molecular studies.

Keywords
Exudation, Avascular Retina, Retina Fold
Medical subject headings
Eye Diseases, Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathies

Timeline

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

  1. First posted30 Mar 2005 (estimated)
  2. Study start18 Mar 2005
  3. Primary completion1 Nov 2006
  4. Study completion1 Nov 2006

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
105 participants
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00106756
Sponsor's protocol ID
050104
Other IDs
05-EI-0104
Status last verified
26 Jun 2009
First submitted
29 Mar 2005
Last updated
2 Jul 2017
Results posted
No

Publications

  • Criswick VG, Schepens CL. Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. Am J Ophthalmol. 1969 Oct;68(4):578-94. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(69)91237-9. No abstract available.

    PubMed 5394449
  • Gow J, Oliver GL. Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. An expanded view. Arch Ophthalmol. 1971 Aug;86(2):150-5. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1971.01000010152007. No abstract available.

    PubMed 5571414
  • Laqua H. Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. Albrecht Von Graefes Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol. 1980;213(2):121-33. doi: 10.1007/BF00413539.

    PubMed 6906151

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Exudatiaon and Avascular Retina, run by National Eye Institute (NEI) at 2 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 1 inclusion and 1 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 2 sites in Canada, 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 NCT00106756, 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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