Detection and Characterization of Host Defense Defects

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES (NIAID) · Nov 3, 1999

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on understanding immune defects, particularly those affecting specific white blood cells called phagocytes, which help protect the body from infections. The study aims to determine the genetic and biochemical reasons behind these immune problems in patients who experience unusual or frequent infections and their family members. By gathering information from blood, urine, saliva, and other samples, the researchers hope to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infections related to these immune conditions.

To participate in this study, patients and their blood relatives must be over one month old and suspected of having an immune defect linked to phagocytes. Participants can expect a thorough medical evaluation, including medical history, physical exams, and various tests like blood work and imaging studies. They may also need to return for follow-ups every six months. It’s important to note that the trial does not cover travel or lodging costs for the initial visit, and financial assistance may be available based on need. This study is also open to healthy volunteers aged 18 to 80 who can provide informed consent.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• * INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • Patients known to have or suspected of having an immune defect significantly or primarily involving the phagocytes will be eligible for enrollment, as well as their blood relatives. Such syndromes include but are not limited to those listed above. Eligibility will not be limited based on sex, race, or disability. Patients or patient relatives must be over 1 month of age.
• The patient and patient relative cohorts will include the following special populations:
• • Children: Children are included in this study because immune defects may present in early childhood, and early diagnosis or characterization may benefit subjects.
• • Decisionally impaired adults: Patients and patient relatives will be able to provide informed consent for themselves or if they lack the capacity to provide informed consent, the study team will obtain consent from the legally authorized representative. Patients with underlying immune disorders, autoimmune phenomena or severe infections may sometimes present with delirium, encephalopathy, or coma and are therefore unable to provide informed consent. Excluding patients who are unable to provide consent could adversely impact patient access to medical therapy at the NIH as well as adversely impact research recruitment. Excluding patients unable to provide consent would also essentially prohibit us from evaluating patients at higher risk for adverse outcomes and therefore skew our understanding of disease. Similarly, enrolled patient subjects who lose the ability to provide ongoing consent during study participation may continue in the study. The risks and benefits of participation for subjects unable to consent should be identical to those described for less vulnerable patients. The process for obtaining consent for these individuals is described below.
• • Healthy volunteers will be healthy adults between the age of 18 and 80 years of either sex, and they must be able to provide informed consents for themselves.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • The presence of an acquired abnormality which leads to immune defects, such as HIV, cytotoxic chemotherapy or malignancy, could be grounds for possible exclusion if, in the opinion of the investigator, the presence of such disease process interfered with evaluation.
• • Individuals with dementia that impairs obtaining informed consent are excluded from enrolling as healthy volunteers, although such subjects may enroll in the patient or relative cohorts if consent can be obtained as described below.