Natural History of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, Batten's CLN6 Diseae (Batten'sCLN6)

Natural History Study of Batten's CLN6 Disease

CLN6 is a rare, neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive loss of acquired skills with motor delay, visual loss, seizures and ataxia. The investigators propose a natural history study of this rare disorder since it is currently unknown. It is important to understand disease progression in CLN6 disease to be able to judge therapeutic efficacy as emerging therapies like gene therapy become available.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Batten Disease; CLN6
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Natural history

Detailed Description

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) is the most common childhood neurodegenerative disorder characterized by accumulation of autofluorescent waxy lipopigments in the brain and other tissues. The symptoms manifest as blindness, seizures, ataxia, myoclonus and loss of milestones or dementia. This group of disorders caused by an intracellular accumulation of lipopigment (ceroid lipofuscin) material leads to neuronal death and is the most prevalent class of childhood neurodegenerative disease.

There are 14 types of NCL with 13 genotypes. Most of these are autosomal recessive. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, type 6 usually present like a late infantile NCL (CLN2) but can also present at as a juvenile onset (Mole). The natural history is not well established and the presentation maybe variable. There are currently no published data on the disease progression of children with CLN6 disease

CLN6 is a rare, neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive loss of acquired skills with motor delay, visual loss, seizures and ataxia. The investigators propose a natural history study of this rare disorder since it is currently unknown. Although there are descriptions of the clinical spectrum, the natural history has not been well described. It is important to understand disease progression in CLN6 disease to be able to judge therapeutic efficacy for as emerging therapies like gene therapy become available. The investigators will identify children with a genotypic diagnosis of CLN6 who are consulting Nationwide Children's hospital. The investigators will also recruit patients through family conferences of Batten's disease Support and Research association. The investigators propose a retro prospective chart review and longitudinal phone follow-up of with diagnosis of CLN6 to understand the onset and progression of this disease.

CLN6 is a rare, neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive loss of acquired skills with motor delay, visual loss, seizures and ataxia. The investigators propose a natural history study of this rare disorder since it is currently unknown. Although there are descriptions of the clinical spectrum, the natural history has not been well described. It is important to understand disease progression in CLN6 disease to be able to judge therapeutic efficacy for as emerging therapies like gene therapy become available. The investigators will identify children with a genotypic diagnosis of CLN6 who are consulting Nationwide Children's hospital. Patients will also be recruited through family conferences of Batten's disease Support and Research association.

OBJECTIVES:

The primary objectives of this study include the following:

1. Assess the natural history of CLN6 by performing a prospective, longitudinal chart review and phone follow-up of patients who have a diagnosis of Batten's disease, with a specific genotype of CLN6.
2. To promote better understanding of this disease to compare therapeutic efficacy with emerging therapies

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Ohio
    • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43205
      • Nationwide Children's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 2 years to 25 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Study population will consist of children or adolescents (minors).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Confirmed diagnosis of genotypic diagnosis of CLN6

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who do not have a genotypic diagnosis of CLN6

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Retrospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Natural history of disease progression	The investigators will assess historical data for the onset of seizures, blindness, dementia, and loss of motor skills; and will request any available MRIs and EEGs.	Three years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Emily de los Reyes
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Emily de los Reyes, MD, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Schulz A, Kohlschutter A, Mink J, Simonati A, Williams R. NCL diseases - clinical perspectives. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 Nov;1832(11):1801-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.04.008. Epub 2013 Apr 17.
• Canafoglia L, Gilioli I, Invernizzi F, Sofia V, Fugnanesi V, Morbin M, Chiapparini L, Granata T, Binelli S, Scaioli V, Garavaglia B, Nardocci N, Berkovic SF, Franceschetti S. Electroclinical spectrum of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses associated with CLN6 mutations. Neurology. 2015 Jul 28;85(4):316-24. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000001784. Epub 2015 Jun 26.
• Sharp JD, Wheeler RB, Parker KA, Gardiner RM, Williams RE, Mole SE. Spectrum of CLN6 mutations in variant late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Hum Mutat. 2003 Jul;22(1):35-42. doi: 10.1002/humu.10227.
• Gao H, Boustany RM, Espinola JA, Cotman SL, Srinidhi L, Antonellis KA, Gillis T, Qin X, Liu S, Donahue LR, Bronson RT, Faust JR, Stout D, Haines JL, Lerner TJ, MacDonald ME. Mutations in a novel CLN6-encoded transmembrane protein cause variant neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in man and mouse. Am J Hum Genet. 2002 Feb;70(2):324-35. doi: 10.1086/338190. Epub 2001 Dec 21.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 19, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 15, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): September 18, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 30, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 28, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Batten's disease; Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Metabolic Diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System; Lipid Metabolism Disorders; Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Lipidoses; Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB16-00554

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No