2 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The Registry and Natural History Study for Early Onset Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) is focused on gathering longitudinal clinical data as well as biological samples (skin and/or blood and/or saliva) from male and female patients, under the age of 30, who exhibited early onset symptoms of HSP with (1) a clinical diagnosis of hereditary spastic paraplegia and (2) the presence of variants in HSP related genes and/or be a relative of a person with such a diagnosis. Currently, the treatment for this disorder is generally symptomatic and available therapies improve quality of life, but are grossly inefficient in slowing the disease progression. Access to the registry information will be limited to the study staff who are responsible for recruitment and maintenance of the registry. We hope that recruitment into the registry for studies will advance knowledge of the causes, clinical course, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions.
The purpose of the HSP Sequencing Initiative is to better understand the role of genetics in hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and related disorders. The HSPs are a group of more than 80 inherited neurological diseases that share the common feature of progressive spasticity. Collectively, the HSPs present the most common cause of inherited spasticity and associated disability, with a combined prevalence of 2-5 cases per 100,000 individuals worldwide. In childhood-onset forms, initial symptoms are often non-specific and many children may not receive a diagnosis until progressive features are recognized, often leading to a significant diagnostic delay. Genetic testing in children with spastic paraplegia is not yet standard practice. In this study, the investigators hope to identify genetic factors related to HSP. By identifying different genetic factors, the investigators hope that over time we can develop better treatments for sub-categories of HSP based on cause.