RecruitingNot Applicable

Detection and Characterization of Host Defense Defects

United States3,600 participantsStarted 1993-09-01

Plain-language summary

This protocol is designed to evaluate selected patients with documented recurrent or unusual infections and their family members for clinical and laboratory correlates of immune abnormalities. It allows long term follow up of patients with host defense defects and permits the periodic study of their blood, urine, saliva, skin, stool and vaginal specimens or wound drainage from such patients or their family members for medically indicated purposes and research studies related to understanding the genetic and biochemical bases of these diseases. This protocol may help provide patients and materials for the development of therapies for these diseases. This study will: 1. Determine the biochemical and genetic causes of inherited immune diseases affecting phagocytes (white blood cells that defend against bacterial and fungal infections) 2. Try to develop better ways to diagnose and treat patients with these diseases, and to prevent, diagnose and treat their infections Patients and family members may undergo the following procedures: * A personal and family medical history, physical examination and other procedures, which may include various blood tests; urinalysis; saliva collection; imaging studies such as chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and lung function studies, dental examination or eye examinations, if medically indicated. * Patients who have draining wounds will have fluid collected from these wounds for biochemical study. * Tissues removed as part of medical care, such as pieces of lung, liver, or teeth, or biopsies of these tissues will be studied. * Patients who have an immune problem that investigators wish to study further will be asked to return to NIH for follow-up visits at irregular intervals, but at least every 6 months. The visits will include an updated medical history, examination directed at the particular medical problem related to the immune disorder, follow-up of abnormal tests or treatment, and collection of blood, saliva, urine, or wound fluid for study. * Patients may have genetic testing and must be willing to have specimens stored for future research. * Family members will have a medical history, saliva or urine collection, and chest X-ray or other imaging study, if medically indicated. * Normal volunteers who have had tissue biopsies or pieces of tissue removed as part of medical care, such as pieces of lung, liver, or teeth, will have these tissues studied. * NIH does not cover the cost of the initial screening visit for travel or lodging. A financial assessment may determine if the patient is eligible for financial assistance. This study does not enroll children under the age of 2. * Patients will be asked to obtain their medical records, previous test results, or imaging studies prior to the first visit.

Who can participate

Age range

1 Month – 100 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients known to have or suspected of having an immune defect significantly or primarily involving the phagocytes will be eligible for enrollment, as well as their blood relatives. Such syndromes include but are not limited to those listed above. Eligibility will not be limited based on sex, race, or disability. Patients or patient relatives must be over 1 month of age. The patient and patient relative cohorts will include the following special populations: * Children: Children are included in this study because immune defects may present in early childhood, and early diagnosis or characterization may benefit subjects. * Decisionally impaired adults: Patients and patient relatives will be able to provide informed consent for themselves or if they lack the capacity to provide informed consent, the study team will obtain consent from the legally authorized representative. Patients with underlying immune disorders, autoimmune phenomena or severe infections may sometimes present with delirium, encephalopathy, or coma and are therefore unable to provide informed consent. Excluding patients who are unable to provide consent could adversely impact patient access to medical therapy at the NIH as well as adversely impact research recruitment. Excluding patients unable to provide consent would also essentially prohibit us from evaluating patients at higher risk for adverse outcomes and therefore skew our understanding of disease. Similarly, enrolled patient su…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Improved disease if either normalization or sustained improvement is observed.

Timeframe: Complete withdrawal from steroid or sustained reduction to low dose antimicrobials or immune modulators.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00001355

SponsorNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Sponsor typeNIH

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Contact for this trial

Dawn E Shaw, R.N.

(301) 401-4740 dawn.shaw2@nih.gov

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Immune Defects trials