Pediatric Movement Disorders of Unknown Etiology in Vietnam (VPeMD) (VPeMD)

Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Pediatric Movement Disorders of Unknown Etiology in Vietnam

This observational patient registry aims to describe the clinical phenotypes and genetic findings of Vietnamese children with movement disorders of unknown etiology. Eligible participants are children with clinically confirmed movement disorders after evaluation by pediatric neurology specialists and after exclusion of clear acquired causes.

The study will collect clinical data, neurological examination findings, available laboratory and imaging results, and video recordings of abnormal movements when consent is provided. Blood samples will be collected for whole-exome sequencing and related genetic analysis. Genetic variants will be classified according to accepted clinical genetics standards and compared with the patients' clinical phenotypes.

The study is expected to improve understanding of the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of pediatric movement disorders in Vietnam, support genetic counseling, and evaluate how genetic results may influence diagnosis, follow-up, prognosis, and treatment planning.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Neurogenetic Disorders; Movement Disorders in Children; Neuro Developmental Delay
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Whole-Exome Sequencing

Detailed Description

Movement disorders in children represent a heterogeneous group of neurological conditions that include dystonia, chorea, ataxia, myoclonus, tremor, tics, parkinsonism, and mixed movement disorders. The underlying causes are highly diverse and include genetic, metabolic, neurodegenerative, structural, immune-mediated, and acquired disorders. However, a substantial proportion of pediatric patients remain without a definitive diagnosis after standard clinical evaluation and routine investigations.

Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies, particularly whole-exome sequencing, have significantly improved the diagnostic yield in pediatric movement disorders and have contributed to the identification of novel disease-causing genes and genotype-phenotype correlations. Nevertheless, data regarding the clinical and genetic spectrum of pediatric movement disorders in Vietnam remain limited.

The VPeMD registry is a prospective observational patient registry designed to collect standardized clinical and genetic data from Vietnamese children with movement disorders of unknown etiology. Participants will undergo detailed clinical evaluation by pediatric neurology specialists, including assessment of movement phenomenology, neurological findings, developmental history, family history, neuroimaging findings, laboratory investigations, and treatment history.

Biological samples will be collected for genetic analysis, including whole-exome sequencing and additional molecular investigations when appropriate. Genetic variants will be interpreted according to internationally accepted standards and correlated with clinical manifestations.

The study aims to characterize the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of pediatric movement disorders in Vietnam, evaluate diagnostic yield of genetic testing, identify genotype-phenotype correlations, and assess the potential impact of genetic diagnosis on patient management, prognosis, genetic counseling, and future therapeutic strategies.

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

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Bich Y L Nguyen, MD, MSc, PhD Candidate; Phone Number: +84 939077089; Email: nbylinh.ncs25@ump.edu.vn
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Hieu L. T. Nguyen, Assoc Prof, MD, PhD; Phone Number: +84 908393616; Email: ngletrunghieu@ump.edu.vn

Study Locations

• Vietnam
  • Ho Chi Minh City
    • Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 700000
      • Recruiting
      • Children's Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City
      • Contact: Linh B.Y Nguyen, MSc, MD, PPHD Candidate; Phone Number: +84 939077089; Email: nbylinh.ncs25@ump.edu.vn
    • Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 700000
      • Recruiting
      • University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City
      • Contact: Hieu L.T. Nguyen, AProf, MD, PhD; Phone Number: +84 908393616; Email: ngletrunghieu@ump.edu.vn

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Vietnamese children with clinically confirmed movement disorders of unknown etiology who are evaluated or treated at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City or Children's Hospital 1. Participants will be enrolled after clinical assessment by pediatric neurology specialists and after informed consent is obtained from legal guardians and/or participants when appropriate.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children younger than 18 years old.
• Patients with clinically confirmed movement disorders based on direct examination and/or video review by at least two pediatric neurology specialists.
• Patients with movement disorders of unknown etiology after appropriate neurological evaluation and exclusion of clear acquired causes.
• Patients evaluated or treated at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City or Children's Hospital 1 during the study period.
• Patients and/or legal guardians who provide written informed consent for study participation and genetic testing.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with isolated or transient primary tic disorders.
• Patients with a confirmed acquired cause of movement disorder.
• Patients or legal guardians who decline participation or withdraw from the study.
• Patients with insufficient clinical information or unavailable biological samples for genetic analysis.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Vietnamese Pediatric Movement Disorder Cohort; Vietnamese children with clinically confirmed movement disorders of unknown etiology who meet the study eligibility criteria and are enrolled in the VPeMD registry. Participants will undergo standardized clinical data collection and genetic testing using whole-exome sequencing.

Diagnostic test: Whole-Exome Sequencing; Whole-exome sequencing will be performed on DNA extracted from peripheral blood samples to identify genetic variants associated with pediatric movement disorders. The test is used for genetic analysis and genotype-phenotype correlation in this observational registry and is not assigned as a treatment intervention.; Other Names: Next-generation sequencing; WES

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Clinical Phenotypes of Pediatric Movement Disorders	Distribution of clinical movement disorder phenotypes among enrolled participants, including dystonia, chorea, ataxia, myoclonus, tremor, parkinsonism, stereotypies, and mixed movement disorders, based on pediatric neurology assessment and clinical records.	At enrollment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Diagnostic Yield of Whole-Exome Sequencing	Proportion of enrolled participants with pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic variants identified by whole-exome sequencing and related genetic analysis.	From enrollment to return of genetic results, up to 12 months
Genotype-Phenotype Correlation	Correlation between identified genetic variants and clinical phenotypes of pediatric movement disorders will be assessed. Genetic findings will be obtained from WES. Clinical phenotypes will be characterized using standardized neurological assessments, including movement disorder classification, age at onset, symptom distribution, disease progression, neurological comorbidities, developmental status, and neuroimaging findings when available. The correlation between genotype and phenotype will be evaluated by comparing identified genetic variants with clinical characteristics of enrolled participants.	From enrollment to completion of clinical and genetic data analysis, up to 24 months
Impact of Genetic Diagnosis on Clinical Management	Proportion of participants whose diagnosis, prognosis, follow-up plan, genetic counseling, or treatment strategy is changed after genetic testing results become available.	From return of genetic results to follow-up assessment, up to 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Linh B. Y Nguyen, MD, MSc, PHD Candidate, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 17, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2029

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 1, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 8, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 10, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 8, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Vietnam; Whole Exome Sequencing; VPeMD; Pediatric movement disorders
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Genome; Genetic Structures; Genetic Phenomena; Exome
• Other Study ID Numbers: UMP-VPeMD-26298

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared because the study involves pediatric participants and sensitive genetic data. Data sharing is restricted by the approved ethics protocol, informed consent, and privacy considerations related to clinical and genomic information.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No