Study on Tolerability of Levodopa/Carbidopa in Children With Angelman Syndrome
Information source: Children's Hospital Boston
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 23, 2015 Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Angelman Syndrome
Intervention: Levodopa/Carbidopa (4:1) (Drug)
Phase: Phase 1
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: Children's Hospital Boston Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s): Wen-Hann Tan, BMBS, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Children's Hospital Boston
Summary
This study is designed to determine the highest dose of levodopa/carbidopa that can be
tolerated without any serious side effects by children with Angelman syndrome.
It has been hypothesized that levodopa may lead to an improvement in the neurodevelopment
and abnormal movements (e. g. tremors) in children with Angelman syndrome.
Data from this study will be used to design a phase II trial to determine the efficacy of
levodopa in treating children with Angelman syndrome.
Clinical Details
Official title: A Dose-escalation Tolerability Study of Levodopa/Carbidopa in Angelman Syndrome
Study design: Endpoint Classification: Safety Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Primary outcome: Maximum dose of levodopa/carbidopa that can be tolerated (without any dose limiting toxicity) by at least 5 out of 6 different subjects.
Detailed description:
Levodopa is a prodrug that "delivers" dopamine to the brain. It is usually given with
carbidopa, a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor, to increase the bioavailability of
levodopa. Animal studies have suggested that levodopa can reverse the excess phosphorylation
of some enzymes involved in synaptic and neuronal function, including
calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase type 2 (CaMKII).
Recently, it was shown that excess phosphorylation of CaMKII may be responsible for some of
the neurological deficits seen in Angelman syndrome. Therefore, it is hypothesized that
levodopa may lead to an improvement in the neurodevelopment and abnormal movements (e. g.
tremors) in children with Angelman syndrome.
Although many children have used levodopa for a variety of medical conditions over the last
30 years, it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in
children, and it has not been formally studied in children with Angelman syndrome, so we do
not know what dose of levodopa is most appropriate for children with Angelman syndrome.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find out the highest dose of levodopa that
children with Angelman syndrome can tolerate without any serious side effects.
Once we know the dose of levodopa that can be tolerated by children with Angelman syndrome,
we will conduct a larger follow-up study to find out whether levodopa will lead to an
improvement in their development and tremor.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 4 Years.
Maximum age: 12 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Angelman syndrome, confirmed by molecular testing
- Must be willing to come for research visit on 2 days, exactly 1 week apart
Exclusion Criteria:
- On levodopa, carbidopa, or any dopamine agonists in the 2 weeks prior to
participation
- Other medical conditions that may be associated with developmental or cognitive
delays
- More than 2 clinical seizures per month
- Used monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors within the last 2 weeks
- Used phenytoin within the last 2 weeks
- Used phenothiazines, butyrophenones, and thioxanthenes within last 2 weeks
- Hypersensitive to levodopa or carbidopa
- Cardiovascular disease or instability
- Respiratory diseases, including asthma, emphysema, chronic cough, and shortness of
breath
- Liver disease
- Stomach or intestinal ulcers
- Kidney disease
- Hematological problems, including anemia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia
- Used investigational drugs/interventions within the past three months
Locations and Contacts
Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
Additional Information
Starting date: January 2009
Last updated: October 10, 2012
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