Independent Studies of Dextromethorphan and of Donepezil Hydrochloride for Rett Syndrome

June 23, 2005 updated by: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Pathogenesis of Rett Syndrome: Natural History and Treatment

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a disorder in which the nervous system does not develop properly. RTT generally affects girls, but there are some boys who have been diagnosed with RTT. Symptoms of RTT include small brain size, poor language skills, repetitive hand movements, and seizures. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of two drugs in treating the symptoms of RTT.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

RTT is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by apparently normal early development followed by loss of purposeful hand use, distinctive hand stereotypies, slowed brain growth, loss of language, respiratory irregularities, GI disturbances, gait abnormalities, seizures, and mental retardation. These symptoms appear between ages 6 and 18 months (stage 2 of the disease) following apparently normal development (stage 1). Subsequently, there is gradual stabilization of severe mental retardation and motor compromise (stage 3). The majority (70% to 80%) of patients demonstrate mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding-protein-2 (MeCP2) gene, a transcription repressor located on chromosome Xq28. The disorder predominantly affects females, but a few males with mutations in MeCP2 have been identified, even though many of them do not have the classic symptoms recognized in females.

Recent studies demonstrate increased brain N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in stages 2 and 3 of the disease. This age-specific increase in glutamate levels and their receptors contribute to brain damage. This first study will examine the effectiveness of dextromethorphan, an NMDA receptor antagonist, to ameliorate symptoms. Participants will be randomized to receive one of three doses of dextromethorphan. All participants will be admitted to the hospital for three days at the beginning of the study. During the hospitalization, participants will undergo physical exam, Dexascan, MRI, EEG, behavioral assessment, laboratory testing, and neuropsychological evaluations. Six months after baseline assessment, participants will be rehospitalized for 3 days for similar assessments.

Reduction in choline acetyltransferase activity in RTT patients may also contribute to disturbed cortical development and psychomotor retardation in RTT. Therefore, the second part of the study will evaluate the effect of donepezil hydrochloride, an inhibitor of acetylcholine-esterase, on acetylcholine levels. This portion of the study will not begin until pharmacokinetic data for donepezil in children is available.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

90

Phase

  • Phase 3

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
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States
        • Recruiting
        • Kennedy Krieger Institute
        • Contact:
          • SakkuBai R. Naidu, MD
          • Phone Number: 443-923-2778
        • Contact:

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 year to 15 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosis of Rett syndrome
  • Mutation in MeCP2 gene
  • Typical EEG abnormalities (disorganized background, frontal central spikes, rhythmic theta)

Exclusion Criteria

  • Features of Rett syndrome with absence of MeCP2 mutation
  • Non-specific EEG changes

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: SakkuBai R. Naidu, MD, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.

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

September 1, 2004

Study Completion

June 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 29, 2003

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 29, 2003

First Posted (Estimate)

September 30, 2003

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 24, 2005

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 23, 2005

Last Verified

December 1, 2004

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HD024448
  • 5P01HD024448 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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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