Study of Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001350 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : November 4, 1999
Last Update Posted : April 19, 2021
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The purpose of the protocol is to allow for patients, and relatives of patients, who may have the newly described autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, to be evaluated at the NIH Clinical Center. This evaluation will include blood and relevant tissue studies along with long-term clinical evaluations to define the biology, inheritance,clinical spectrum, and natural history of this syndrome. The aim of the research is to understand mechanisms involved in the development of expanded numbers of what is typically a rare population of immune cells (CD4-8-/TCRalpha/beta+ T cells, otherwise referred to as double negative T cells), and how these relate to the development of expanded numbers of immune cells and autoimmune (self against self) responses in patients with ALPS.
In some cases, we may proivide treatment related to ALPS. These treatments are consistent with standard medical practice.
Participants with ALPS will be invited to visit the NIH once a year or more frequently when clinically indicated for the next few years for clinicians and scientists to follow the course of their disease and to manage its complications. Knowledge gained from these studies provides important insights into the mechanisms of autoimmunity, the thymus gland, and the role that the immune system and genetics plays in ALPS.
Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome is a rare disease that affects both children and adults. Each of these three words helps describe the main features of this condition. The word autoimmune (self-immune) identifies ALPS as a disease of the immune system. The tools used to fight germs turn against our own cells and cause problems. The word lymphoproliferative describes the unusually large numbers of white blood cells (called lymphocytes (stored in the lymph nodes and spleens of people with ALPS. The word syndrome refers to the many common symptoms shared by ALPS patients.
One of the causes of ALPS is defective apoptosis, or said another way, an individual has an abnormality in how well lymphocytes (immune cells) die when they are instructed to do so. It is normal for lymphocytes to disintegrate (e.g., die) when they have done their job. In people with ALPS and in some of their affected relatives, the genetic message for the cells to die is altered: the message is not received and the cells do not die when they should. As a result, people with ALPS develop an enlarged spleen, liver and lymph glands, along with a range of other problems involving white blood cell counts and overactive immune responses (autoimmune disease). Some patients have an increased risk of developing lymphatic cancers (lymphoma).
Provided is a description of eligible study candidates:
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Any patient with ALPS, male or female and of any age. As a patient with ALPS, candidates must have:
- a medical history of an enlarged spleen and/or enlarged lymph nodes over an extended period of time (past and/or current).
- defective lymphocyte apoptosis, in vitro.
- greater than or equal to 1 percent TCR alpha/beta+CD4-8- peripheral blood T cells.
- Relatives (any age) of patients and normal controls (18-65).
- Healthy normal volunteers will also be enrolled to provide data on normal cell behavior for comparison with patients.
Additional information regarding ALPS and the research being conducted at the National Institutes of Health is available at the following World Wide Web (e.g., Internet) locations:
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/alps/
http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/DIR/GMBB/ALPS/.
Condition or disease |
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Benign Lymphoproliferative Disorder |
Study Type : | Observational |
Estimated Enrollment : | 1000 participants |
Observational Model: | Case-Only |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Study of the Immunopathogenesis, Natural History, and Genetics of Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS) Associated With an Expansion of CD4-8-/TCR Alpha/Beta+ T Cells |
Actual Study Start Date : | May 13, 1993 |

Group/Cohort |
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1
ALPS patients and relatives of all ages
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- Elucidate the mechanism of immune-dysregulation leading to ALPS and develop targeted treatments [ Time Frame: Median follow up of 25 years ]Improvement of underlying immune-dysregulation

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Ages Eligible for Study: | up to 99 Years (Child, Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
- INCLUSION CRITERIA:
A. ALPS Natural History sample size and demographics:
Study size: up to 1000 patients, patients, relatives and normal controls.
Sex Distribution: Male and female
Age range: All ages acceptable
B. Eligibility Criteria for Natural History Study:
- To be considered as having ALPS, patients must elevated TCR alpha/beta+ CD4-8- peripheral blood DNT cells (equal to or greater than 1.5 percent of total lymphocytes or 2.5 percent of CD3+ lymphocytes) in the setting of normal or evalted lymphocyte counts.
- A history of chronic (greater than 6 months) non-malignant, non-infectious lymphadenopathy and/or splenomegaly.
- Willingness to allow blood, tissue and other samples to be stored.
- Patients with RALD (RAS associated leukoproliferative disorders) who present with autoimmunity, lymphadenopathy and/or splenomegaly, with elevated or normal DNT s and somatic mutations in NRAS and KRAS
C. Eligibility Criteria for Screening potential patients:
- A history of chronic (greater than 6 months) lymphadenopathy and/or splenomegaly.
- Willingness to allow blood, tissue and other samples to be stored.
D. Screening criteria for ALPS Relatives:
- Extended family members of an ALPS patient are eligible for genetic screening to determine if they carry the mutation found in their family.
- Willingness to allow blood, tissue and other samples to be stored.
E. Eligibility of special populations:
1. Women who are pregnant or breast feeding are eligible to enroll as probands or relatives. However, certain obstetric issues may pose a safety risk for travel and evaluation here. Eligibility for this group will be determined on a case by case basis by the PI. This protocol is not actively seeking women who are pregnant
F. 1. Apheresis will be done only on healthy volunteers or patients with ALPS who have adequate peripheral venous access. Women of childbearing age must have a negative pregnancy test within 24 hours of the procedure and must not be breast-feeding.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
1. Any condition that the Principal Investigator deems to be non-conducive to the research goals of the study.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00001350
Contact: Sharon F Webster | (202) 450-0696 | sharon.webster@nih.gov | |
Contact: V. Koneti Rao, M.D. | (301) 496-6502 | kr191c@nih.gov |
United States, Maryland | |
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike | Recruiting |
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892 | |
Contact: For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR) 800-411-1222 ext TTY8664111010 prpl@cc.nih.gov |
Principal Investigator: | V. Koneti Rao, M.D. | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) |
Publications:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00001350 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
930063 93-I-0063 |
First Posted: | November 4, 1999 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | April 19, 2021 |
Last Verified: | April 13, 2021 |
Immunoregulation T Cell Receptor Alpha/Beta Lymphoproliferation Fas |
Autoimmune Disease Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome ALPS |
Lymphoproliferative Disorders Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome Lymphatic Diseases Immunoproliferative Disorders |
Immune System Diseases Genetic Diseases, Inborn Autoimmune Diseases |