Mucolipidosis Type IV Natural History Study

A New Retrospective Natural History Study of Mucolipidosis Type IV

The primary objectives of the study are: to describe the characteristics of the current international MLIV population; to define the median age at which patients with MLIV achieve or lose developmental milestones; to define the natural history of MLIV for the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) (Morris and Bartlett, 2004) and the MLIV specific scale and test the validity of retrospectively applying these scales to medical record data; to define the rate of visual decline in patients with MLIV.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Mucolipidosis Type IV

Detailed Description

This study is a retrospective natural history study of MLIV. It involves the collection of all participants medical records prior to the date of consent.

First, the study will provide an approximate description of the international MLIV population, which could inform the feasibility and design of interventional trials. Second, the results will be used to create an MLIV specific developmental timeline (akin to the Denver Developmental Screen (Frankenburg and Dodds, 1967)) against which a patient's developmental trajectory pre- and post-treatment can be compared. Third, the study will assess the reliability and validity of the GMFCS and our MLIV specific scales when applied retrospectively. These scales could provide longitudinal, quantitative historical data on the level of function and disability in MLIV patients. The scales could be used as endpoints in future trials or provide historical context for interpretation of treatment effects. Fourth, the study will define the rate of visual decline in patients, which could be halted by gene therapy targeted to the retina. Fifth, the study will analyze the natural history of MLIV associated EEG and brain MRI abnormalities, aiming to establish biomarkers of disease progression. And finally, the study will provide baseline data on clinical measures used to monitor for gene therapy treatment side effects (inflammatory markers, liver enzyme levels, etc.) across the life span of patient with MLIV.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 50

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02144
      • Massachusetts General Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

We expect to enroll 50 MLIV patients who are currently in communication with the ML4 Foundation. This population is comprised of male and female patients, ages 2-45. Many patients are of Ashkenazi Jewish background. These participant candidates are located nationally and internationally.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient of any age or gender with a diagnosis of MLIV confirmed through 1) genetic testing and identification of homozygous MCOLN1 allele variants known to be pathogenic, or 2) clinical characteristics consistent with MLIV and one of the following: a) electron microscopy of fibroblasts or other patient cells demonstrating abnormal lysosomal accumulations consistent with MLIV, or b) elevated gastrin levels (pathognomonic for MLIV in the setting of a neurodevelopmental disorder). Potential participants or guardians must be able to provide informed consent (patient assent is not applicable to the MLIV population).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients will be excluded from data collection if they do not meet any of the diagnostic criteria outlined above or they and their guardians are unable to provide informed consent. It may be possible that an initial review of collected medical records by MGH research staff after consent and enrollment suggests a misdiagnosis of MLIV. In this case the subject will be excluded from the study. Research staff will contact the patient/guardians by email and schedule a telephone or teleconference meeting to discuss the decision. All medical records will be immediately destroyed upon exclusion of a participant.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
ML4 Characteristics	Describe the characteristics of the current international MLIV population.	Three years
Developmental Milestones	Define the age (median and range) at which patients with MLIV achieve or lose developmental milestones.	Three years
Gross Motor Function	Define the natural history of MLIV for the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) (Morris and Bartlett, 2004) and our MLIV specific scale and test the validity of retrospectively applying these scales to medical record data.	Three years
Visual Decline	Define the rate of visual decline in patients with MLIV.	Three years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Iron Deficiency and Achlorhydria	Define the natural history of iron deficiency anemia and achlorhydria in MLIV.	Three years
Brain Imaging	Delineate the natural history of brain imaging, including MRI, and electrophysiological features in MLIV.	Three years
Clinical Labs	Define baseline values for clinical studies or labs that may be used to monitor gene therapy side effects in future clinical trials.	Three years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Patricia Musolino, MD, PHD, Neurologist

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 15, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 8, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 13, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): March 23, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 20, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Metabolic Diseases; Bone Diseases, Metabolic; Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Lysosomal Storage Diseases; Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn; Brain Diseases, Metabolic; Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Nervous System; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Mucolipidoses
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2021P003131

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