An observational study in Lung Disease, Pneumothorax and Tuberous Sclerosis, sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 16 Years to 100 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-05.
Sponsored by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) · Observational
Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a destructive lung disease typically affecting women of childbearing age. Currently, there is no effective therapy for the disease and the prognosis is poor.
This study is designed to determine the disease processes involved at the level of cells and molecules, in order to develop more effective therapy.
Researchers intend to identify the proteins and genes that contribute to the process of lung destruction in affected individuals.
Individuals with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis develop severe destructive lung disease. Many of them are females of childbearing age. Currently, sirolimus is a proven therapy, but it is not effective in all patients and the prognosis is variable. This study is designed to (a) define the clinical course of the disease and (b) elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease at the cellular and molecular levels, in order to develop more effective therapies. To accomplish this, we intend to identify the proteins and genes that contribute to the process of lung destruction in affected individuals.
1,158 studies on the registry are indexed under Lung Diseases; 182 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 2,000 is above the median of 200 across 315 observational studies indexed under Lung Diseases.
Browse Lung Diseases studies →National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is the lead sponsor of 1,143 studies on the registry; 71 are open to participants now.
Of its 58 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 51 (88%) have results posted.
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Individuals with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis develop severe destructive lung disease. Most of them are females of childbearing age. This study is designed to (a) define the clinical course of the disease and (b) elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease at the cellular and molecular levels, in order to develop more effective therapy. To accomplish this, we intend to identify the proteins and genes that contribute to the process of lung destruction in affected individuals.
General admission criteria for patients include one or both of the following:
Findings on lung diagnostic of LAM;
Findings on chest x-ray and/or chest computed axial tomography consistent with LAM.
Patients with TSC and pulmonary LAM will be included in the study.
Normal non-smokers in the control group are defined as individuals who have not smoked for greater than or equal to 1 year and have no systemic or pulmonary disease.
Normal smokers defined as individuals with no systemic or pulmonary disease, who have smoked for greater than or equal to 1 year and have normal chest x-ray and normal pulmonary function tests may be included if needed as controls for a similar population of patients with LAM.
Pregnant and or nursing women including pregnant minors may be included in accordance with Federal Regulations at Subpart B of 45 CFR 46. Subjects who are pregnant and or nursing will be excluded from procedures during their pregnancy that are greater than minimal risk, until they are no longer pregnant and/or nursing. A minor participant with a positive pregnancy test result will be informed promptly. The result will be discussed in a sensitive and developmentally appropriate manner with the minor, including explanation of the result, assessment of safety, and referral for appropriate follow-up care. The participant will be informed of the limits of confidentiality. The study team will encourage involvement of a parent or legal guardian when appropriate and safe. If there is concern for abuse, coercion, exploitation, or danger, the study team will follow applicable mandatory reporting laws and institutional policies, including notification of appropriate authorities and/or a parent or guardian when required to protect the participant or as otherwise required.
Procedures that will not be completed while the subject is pregnant and/or nursing include: Arterial Blood Gases (ABG), testing, treadmill test, lung biopsy, thoracentesis, bronchoscopy, and measurements with imaging modalities requiring contrast or with radiation exposure such as Chest x-ray, CT scan, MRI with or without contrast, lung scan, bone densitometry (DEXA). Allowing subjects to be included in the study may glean important information about individuals with uncommon pulmonary disease during and post pregnancy.
Rationale for inclusion of children (16 to \< 18 years of age):
LAM is a rare progressive disease that can manifest during adolescence, particularly in individuals with TSCassociated disease. Participation is expected to provide evaluation and/or contribute important information about the natural history and presentation of LAM in younger patients. At age 16, the participant is generally capable of providing meaningful consent, understanding study procedures, and participating in discussions about risks, burdens, and potential benefits.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Exclusion criteria for patients include:
Age less than 16.
Advanced stage of a pulmonary or a systemic illness in which the risk of the study is judged to be significant even in the absence of a clear to the procedures.
Exclusion criteria for patients for the formal exercise study and the stress echocardiogram include patients on continuous oxygen. Patients may perform an exercise test that will assess the patient's exercise capacity with activities of daily living.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Biopsy and archival tissue
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients with tissue diagnosis of LAM may be admitted for evaluation every six months, or as deemed necessary for research
Device: Toshibia Aquilion One CT
The Toshiba Aquilion ONE CT system is currently being used for studies in both general CT radiology and CT cardiac imaging. One of the unique aspects of the Aquilion ONE CT system is its ability to acquire whole organ volume images in a single rotation by utilizing an x-ray detector that is configured as 320 detector rows with a 0.5 mm width, providing a z-axis coverage of 16 cm of anatomy. In line with the evolutionary changes to CT systems, the Aquilion ONE will be upgraded with new technology that will expand its capabilities. The changes being made to the Aquilion ONE will provide enhancements to image acquisition capabilities, reduce ionizing radiation dose, and improve subject access to the system. All of these features assist in enhancing the safety of the currently installed Aquilion ONE CT system.
Define the clinical course of the disease LAM andelucidate the pathogenesis of LAM at cellular and molecular levels
To define the molecular basis of the remarkable proliferation of immature appearing smooth muscle cells, which is the cause of many of the clinical manifestations, and perhaps thereby to improve our understanding of the mechanism of smooth muscle cell proliferation in other diseases, e.g., interstitial lung diseases, asthma, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and post-angioplastic coronary restenosis. To assess the contribution of proteins and genetic factors to cyst formation, airway obstruction, and clinical course. To evaluate the role of TSC genes in the pathogenesis of LAM.
Time frame: on going
Plan to share: Undecided
Started Dec 1995 (actual).
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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