Study of Mycobacterial Infections

April 17, 2024 updated by: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Natural History, Genetics, Phenotype, and Treatment of Mycobacterial Infections

This study will examine the symptoms, course of disease and treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections, as well as the genetics involved in these infections. Patients with NTM have recurrent lung infections and sometimes infections of the skin and other organs as well. They may also have curvature of the spine, barrel chest, and heart valve weakness. The study will compare the features of NTM with those of Job syndrome and cystic fibrosis, other diseases involving recurrent infections of the lungs and possibly other organs.

Patients with diagnosed or suspected non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection, cystic fibrosis or Job syndrome may be eligible for this study. All participants will have a medical and family history, blood and urine tests, imaging studies that may include X-rays, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and DNA and other genetic studies. In addition, all patients with Job syndrome and cystic fibrosis, and patients with NTM who have lung disease undergo the following procedures:

  • Scoliosis survey X-rays of the spine to look for curvature or other abnormalities of the spinal column
  • Echocardiography imaging test that uses sound waves to examine the heart chambers and valves
  • Electrocardiogram measurement of the electrical activity of the heart
  • Pulmonary function tests breathing tests to measure how much air the patient can move into and out of the lungs
  • Body measurements measurements of height, weight, arm span, finger length, etc.
  • Joint function assessment of joint mobility using different maneuvers to test flexibility of joints and ligaments
  • Examination of physical features that might be associated with NTM, such as high arched palate of the mouth, flat feet, or certain skin features
  • Dermatology (skin) examination for reactive skin conditions or other skin problems and possibly a skin biopsy (surgical removal of a small skin tissue sample for microscopic examination)
  • Interview with genetics specialist

These tests may require several days to complete. Patients with NTM will also be examined by a cystic fibrosis specialist and may have a sweat test. In addition, NTM patients will be asked to return to NIH every year for 5 years for follow-up tests, if medically indicated, including CT of the chest, scoliosis survey and examination by other specialists.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous environmental organisms foundin soil and water that rarely cause disease in humans. Since exposure to these organisms is universal and disease is rare, it can be concluded that normal host defenses are almost always sufficient to prevent infection. It follows that otherwise healthy individuals who develop disease must have abnormal susceptibility or immune defects that permit infection with nontubercuolous mycobacteria. The organisms that are most commonly encountered in clinical practice include Mycobacterium avium, and M. intracellulare [collectively known as the M. avium complex (MAC)], M. kansasii, M. fortuitum, M. abscessus, and M. chelonae. These organisms share significant structural and biochemical similarities with their more pathogenic relative, M. tuberculosis (MTB). Recognition of host factors that predispose or lead to NTM infection may have important implications for pathogenesis and therapeutic intervention, and may be applicable to the more virulent MTB. Identification of genetic or acquired susceptibility factors may lead to recognition of endogenous pathways that can be exploited therapeutically and to possible gene identification.

Over the last two decades, three important observations have been made regarding the pathogenesis of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. 1) In patients infected with HIV, nontuberculous mycobacterial infections often occur when the CD4+ T-lymphocyte number falls below 50/mm3. This suggested that specific T cell products or activities were required for mycobacterial resistance. 2) An association was noted between pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infections and a particular body habitus, predominantly in post-menopausal women (pectus excavatum, scoliosis, mitral valve prolapse). 3) Multiple defects have been found involving the interferon gamma synthesis and use pathways in patients with disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infection without HIV, suggesting this is a critical pathway for host defense against these organisms.

We seek to better characterize the predisposition to mycobacterial infection. This study will specifically address several aspects of immune function and investigate the proposed link to body morphotype in the relevant population. By collecting this information, we hope to provide insight into disease associations, infection susceptibility, and genetic predisposition to mycobacterial infection.

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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • Recruiting
        • 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

No older than 100 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with mycobacterial infections, including those without previously identified predisposing disease processes as well as individuals with underlying malignancies. Patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial infections will be of particular interest but select patients with acquired immunodeficiencies or tuberculosis may also be studied if relevant host defects are suspected. We may obtain specimens from some blood relatives of enrolled patients.

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PATIENTS:

This protocol will study patients with mycobacterial infections, including those without previously identified predisposing disease processes as well as individuals with underlying malignancies.

Patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial infections will be of particular interest, as we are interested in isolating and characterizing the primary immune defect(s) responsible for this infection susceptibility.

Select patients with acquired immunodeficiencies or tuberculosis may also be studied if relevant host defects are suspected.

Patients must be referred to NIH with a diagnosis or suspicion of having mycobacterial infection.

Male and female patients will be accepted without limitations due to age.

Only patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial infections without HIV infection will be considered for long-term disease management.

INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR RELATIVES:

As part of this protocol, we may obtain medical records, blood work, urine, saliva or buccal swab from some blood relatives of patients on the study, with the hope of isolating and characterizing the primary immune defect(s) responsible for mycobacterial infection susceptibilityand if there are any genetic links seen within families. We hope to identify families with an apparent genetic susceptibility to respiratory diseases predominantly associated with P-NTM and perform whole genome sequencing within this group to identify genetic mutations accounting for this increased susceptibility. Male and female patients will be accepted without limitation due to age. These relatives will not receive treatment or have any other protocol procedures done unless they become a patient on the study.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

None.

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: Cross-Sectional

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Patient Relatives
Blood relatives of enrolled patients
Patients
Patients with mycobacterial infections
Drug: Clofazimine

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Collect patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in order to identify known and novel immune defects, characterize the natural history of these infections in the setting of the best possible standard therapy, and explore the connect...
Time Frame: ongoing
Collecting information on mycobacterial infections
ongoing

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Collaborators

University of Miami
Children's National Health System

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Steven M Holland, M.D., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

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)

January 1, 2001

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 28, 2001

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 28, 2001

First Posted (Estimated)

June 29, 2001

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 18, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 17, 2024

Last Verified

April 16, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 010202
  • 01-I-0202

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.

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