SPATAX: Clinical and Genetic Analysis of Cerebellar Ataxias and Spastic Paraplegias (Spatax)

Clinical and Genetic Analysis of Autosomal Recessive Forms of Cerebellar Ataxias and Spastic Paraplegias

Cerebellar ataxias (CA) and spastic paraplegias (SP) are genetically and clinically very heterogeneous. More than 40 loci are already known but the number of phenotypes is even greater suggesting further genetic heterogeneity. These progressive disorders are often severe and fatal, due to the absence of specific therapy. The SPATAX network combines the experience of European clinicians and scientists working on these groups of diseases. Over the past year, they have assembled the largest collection of families and achieved a number of tasks (initiation of a clinical and genetic database, distribution of DNA to participating laboratories, mapping of three new loci, and refinement of several loci). In addition to clinicians from Europe and Mediterranean countries, who play a major role in collecting families according to evaluation tools developed and validated by the SPATAX members, the group includes major European laboratories devoted to the elucidation of the molecular basis of these disorders. Each laboratory will centralize all families with a subtype of autosomal recessive (AR) CA (n=116) or SP (n=207) in order to efficiently map and identify the responsible gene(s). Genome-wide scans are already underway in 61 families. Given the expertise of the participants, the researchers expect to map and identify several genes during the course of this project. The spectrum of mutations and phenotype/genotype correlations will be analysed thanks to this unique series of patients with various phenotypes. The knowledge gained will be immediately applicable to patients in terms of improved positive diagnosis, follow-up and appropriate genetic counselling. In the long term, models for genetic entity will be developed in order to understand the pathophysiology and to identify new targets for treatment. The series of patients assembled and the precise knowledge of natural history will facilitate the implantation of therapeutic trials based on rational approaches.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

6000

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

      • Algiers, Algeria, 16000
        • CHU Mustapha
      • Brussels, Belgium, 1070
        • Université Libre de Bruxelles - Hôpital Erasme
      • Copenhagen, Denmark, 2200
        • The Panum Institute
      • Angers, France, 49000
        • CHU d'Angers
      • Bordeaux, France, 33000
        • Hôpital Pellegrin
      • Clermont-Ferrand, France, 63000
        • Hôpitaux de Clermont-Ferrand
      • Grenoble, France, 38000
        • CHU
      • Marseille, France, 13000
        • Hôpital de la Timone
      • Nîmes, France, 30000
        • Hopital Caremeau
      • Paris, France, 75012
        • Hôpital Armand Trousseau
      • Paris, France, 75013
        • Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital
      • Rouen, France, 76000
        • Hôpital Charles Nicolle
      • Toulouse, France, 31000
        • Hopital Purpan
      • Jerusalem, Israel, 91120
        • Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital
      • Napoli, Italy, 80131
        • Dipartimento Di Scienze Neurologiche
      • Roma, Italy, 00165
        • Molecular Medicine and Department of Neurosciences
      • Beirut, Lebanon, 1107 2180
        • Université Saint-Joseph
      • Rabat, Morocco
        • CHU de Rabat
      • Nijmegen, Netherlands, 6500 HB
        • Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
      • Oslo, Norway, 407
        • Ullevål University Hospital
      • Porto, Portugal, 4150-180
        • University of Porto
      • Santa Maria Da Feira, Portugal, 4520-211
        • Hospital San Sebastião
      • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 11461
        • King Khalid University Hospital
      • Belgrade, Serbia, 11000
        • Clinical Centre of Serbia
      • Sfax, Tunisia
        • Hôpital Habib Bourguiba
      • London, United Kingdom, NW3 2PF
        • Royal Free and University College Medical School
      • London, United Kingdom, WC1N 3BG
        • The National Hospital

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

2 years to 70 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

French population

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Progressive ataxia or paraplegia

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lack of signed informed consent

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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Characterize clinically the different forms of these diseases
Time Frame: Year 1 to Year 7
Validation of a new quantitative tool with more sensitive grading scale of cerebellar syndrome, spasticity and their consequences. In one single device, three tests were assessed for hand coordination ( " tapping test ", " peg board test" and " click test "), one test for dysarthria and a final test to quantify walking disorders due to spasticity (distance covered in 5 seconds).
Year 1 to Year 7
Elucidate the molecular bases of these diseases
Time Frame: through study duration (through study duration (up to 14 years) )
To elucidate the molecular bases of these diseases (identify the loci/genes involved as well as those that modulate their expression) in order to enable the development of molecular diagnostics, the study of disease mechanisms, the identification of biomarkers and, subsequently, to propose new treatments.
through study duration (through study duration (up to 14 years) )
Establish the natural history of spino-cerebellar degeneration
Time Frame: Year 1 to Year 7
Investigators intended to follow the clinical status of this cohort of patients for 7 years, by assessing the progression of the pathology each year with a neurological exam
Year 1 to Year 7

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Alessandro Filla, MD, PhD, Federico II University
  • Principal Investigator: André Mégarbané, MD, Université Saint-Joseph
  • Principal Investigator: Ali Benomar, MD, PhD, CHU de Rabat
  • Principal Investigator: Christophe Verny, MD, University Hospital, Angers
  • Principal Investigator: Diana Rodriguez, MD, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
  • Principal Investigator: Enrico Bertini, MD, Università de Roma
  • Principal Investigator: François Tison, MD, PhD, Hôpitaux de Bordeaux
  • Principal Investigator: Jorgen E Nielsen, MD, PhD, The Panum Institute
  • Principal Investigator: Mustapha Salih, MD, College of Medicine and KKUH
  • Principal Investigator: Miriem Tazir, MD, PhD, Université d'Alger
  • Principal Investigator: Nicholas W Wood, MD, PhD, Institute of Neurology
  • Principal Investigator: Odile Boespflug-Tanguy, MD, PhD, Hôpitaux de Clermont-Ferrand
  • Principal Investigator: Paula Coutinho, MD, PhD, Universidade do Porto
  • Principal Investigator: Thomas T Warner, MD, PhD, University College, London
  • Principal Investigator: Alexander Lossos, MD, Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Cyril Goizet, MD, PhD, Hôpital Pellegrin
  • Principal Investigator: Patrick Calvas, MD, PhD, Hopital Purpan
  • Principal Investigator: Berry Kremer, MD, Radboud University Medical Center
  • Principal Investigator: Vladimir Kostic, MD, Clinical Centre of Serbia
  • Principal Investigator: Chokri Mhiri, MD, Hôpital Habib Bourguiba
  • Principal Investigator: Massimo Pandolfo, MD, PhD, Université Libre de Bruxelles - Hôpital Erasme
  • Principal Investigator: Jorge Sequeiros, MD, PhD, Universidade do Porto
  • Principal Investigator: Chantal ME Tallaksen, MD, PhD, Ullevaal University Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Alexandra Dürr, MD, PhD, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
  • Principal Investigator: Didier Hannequin, MD, PhD, Hôpitaux de Rouen
  • Principal Investigator: Jean-Philippe Azulay, MD, PhD, assistance publique - hôpitaux de Marseille
  • Principal Investigator: Pierre Labauge, MD, PhD, Hôpitaux de Nîmes
  • Principal Investigator: Pierre Pollak, MD, PhD, Hôpitaux de Grenoble

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)

February 10, 2004

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

December 30, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 25, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 30, 2005

First Posted (Estimated)

September 1, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 30, 2025

Last Verified

January 1, 2025

More Information

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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