Genetic Studies of Lysosomal Storage Disorders

June 11, 2026 updated by: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Studies of Genetic Heterogeneity in Patients With Lysosomal Storage Disorders

The purpose of this study is to identify genetic, biochemical, and clinical factors that are associated with disease severity in people with Gaucher disease and other lysosomal storage disorders.

There is a vast spectrum of clinical manifestations in people with Gaucher disease as well as other lysosomal storage disorders. This study will evaluate patients with lysosomal disorders on an outpatient or inpatient basis in order to better characterize the clinical, genetic, and pathophysiological features of these disorders. Participants will be re-evaluated on an annual basis.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Detailed Description

There is a vast spectrum of clinical manifestations encountered in individuals with lysosomal storage diseases. Lysosomal storage disorders occur when an enzyme necessary for breaking down intracellular fats, proteins, recycled products and organelles in the cell is deficient. As a result, substrate accumulates within the lysosomes affecting different organ systems. The most common lysosomal storage disease, Gaucher disease (GD), results from the inherited deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase, which breaks down the lipid glucocerebroside. The disease is characterized by extremely variable manifestations, with some patients presenting in childhood with hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia and bony problems, some in infancy with a lethal neurodegenerative course, while others remain asymptomatic into their eighth decade. GD has traditionally been divided into three clinical subtypes, type 1 (non-neuronopathic), type 2 (acute neuronopathic), and type 3 (chronic neuronopathic) delineated by the absence or presence of neurologic involvement and its rate of progression. Some patients, however, defy classification into these three categories, and it may be more accurate to regard GD as a continuum of phenotypes. In addition, patients and carriers of mutations in GBA1, the gene for GD, are at increased risk for developing Parkinson disease (PD) and related neurodegenerative disorders.

This is a longitudinal natural history study of patients with lysosomal storage disorders with emphasis on phenotypic heterogeneity of GD and those at risk for the development of parkinsonism. Our goal is to identify genetic, biochemical, and clinical parameters that are associated with disease severity in individuals with lysosomal storage disorders to identify individuals with milder or early phenotypic manifestations, and to explore the natural history and extent of associated clinical manifestations. We also study subjects with GBA1 mutations who are at higher risk for developing parkinsonism to identify early disease manifestations and potential biomarkers. Participants are evaluated at the NIH to better characterize the clinical, genetic and pathophysiological features of these disorders. In order to better understand the entire effect of the enzyme deficiencies and the function of the specific proteins involved, emphasis is placed on individuals with atypical presentations. In particular, we will focus on subjects with GD and PD, to better understand the association between the two disorders. Following an initial comprehensive workup, participants will be studied either in the inpatient wards or the outpatient clinic and will be re-evaluated at periodic intervals longitudinally.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

1000

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

1 month and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patient (or family members of patient) must be found to have or be a carrier of a documented lysosomal storage disorder.@@@

Description

  • INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

For inclusion, the participant, of any age after birth, on initial screening must be found to have or be a carrier of a documented lysosomal storage disorder or be a family member of a documented proband. Healthy controls, > 18 years of age, will be recruited through the NIH healthy volunteer pool or we will invite unaffected spouses or relatives to participate. Healthy controls are necessary to determine the frequency of motor and non-motor symptoms in the general population. Parkinson disease patients, > 18 years of age, will be recruited from the Parkinson disease clinic at the NIH or by self-referral and will also be used for phenotypic comparison with GBA1-associated parkinsonism.

Individuals who, in the opinion of the Investigator, are unable to comply with the protocol or have medical or social conditions that would potentially increase the risk of participation will be excluded from enrolling in the study. There will be no exclusion based upon age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or any other factor. Cognitively impaired individuals may be enrolled if the legal guardian or durable power of attorney (DPA) consents, and assent will be obtained, when appropriate because a significant portion of patients with neurodegenerative disorders may develop cognitive impairment and it is important to include this information in the clinical phenotype. Pregnant or nursing women will also be included because all evaluations and procedures in this protocol do not pose risk to the mother and the fetus as no radiation or imaging studies will be performed for research purpose. Pregnancy in patients with GD and other lysosomal storage disorders presents specific challenges with regards to skeletal, hematological, and possibly visceral complications throughout gestation. It is important to capture the natural history of the disease during pregnancy to assess benefits of initiation/continuation/discontinuation of therapy depending on clinical signs and symptoms. Information obtained from participation of this population is of great value for counseling, prevention of complications, and prognostic implications. Participants are free to refuse any evaluation without affecting participation in this protocol.

These are generally pan-ethnic disorders. Efforts will be made to include any patient from an under-represented minority with these disorders.

Family members eligible/recruited include adult obligate carrier relatives, parents and siblings of Gaucher disease probands, and/or any relative with and without parkinsonism, where noncarriers volunteer for participation to serve as controls.

Eligibility criteria for healthy and PD control group participants include healthy participants recruited from the Healthy volunteers office or healthy non-mutation carriers family members who voluntarily agree to participate. Patients with Parkinson disease who do not carry GBA1 mutations are eligible to participate to serve as controls

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Control
healthy volunteers
Family Member
a family member of a documented proband
Patient
the participant on initial screening must be found to have or be a carrier of a documented lysosomal storage disorder

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Clinical Phenotypes
Time Frame: ongoing
The purpose of this study is to clearly describe the clinical phenotypes of individuals with lysosomal storage diseases in order to better understand the pathophysiology of these disorders and to develop new therapies.
ongoing

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
development of Parkinsonism
Time Frame: ongoing
We aim to identify factors that may be predictive of the development of Parkinsonism in an at-risk population
ongoing

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ellen Sidransky, M.D., National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 8, 1995

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 3, 1999

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 3, 1999

First Posted (Estimated)

November 4, 1999

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 11, 2026

Last Verified

June 9, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 860096
  • 86-HG-0096

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

pending

IPD Sharing Time Frame

pending

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

pending

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Parkinson Disease

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Moldova

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe