CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT00001754Updated Mar 4, 2008

Study of Skeletal Disorders and Short Stature

An observational study in Developmental Bone Disease, Dwarfism and Skeletal Dysplasias, sponsored by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). Completed at 1 site in United States. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2008-03-04.

Sponsored by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) · Observational

Study type
Observational
Enrollment
600
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study will determine the genes responsible for skeletal dysplasias (disorders of the skeleton) and short stature and define the range and type of medical problems they cause over time. It will investigate whether specific gene changes cause specific medical problems in these disorders and identify the signs and symptoms upon which their diagnoses must be based.

Individuals with short stature or with a skeletal dysplasia known or suspected to be caused by a gene mutation (change) may be eligible for this study. Family members may also participate. Skeletal dysplasias under study include: achondroplasia, hypochondroplasia, achondrogenesis type II, hypochondrogenesis, Kniest dysplasia, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasias, Stickler syndrome; Shmid and Jansen metaphyseal dysplasias; pyknodysotosis, proximal symphalangism, brachydactyly types B C and E, Ellis van Creveld and related disorders, metatrophic chondrodysplasias, cartilage-hair hypoplasia and disorders with a skeletal abnormality that have not yet been defined but might be the result of a genetic defect.

Patients will talk with two genetics specialists who will explain the study and its possible implications for the patient and family and answer questions. The patient's medical records will be reviewed, a personal and family history will be taken, and a physical examination will be done. Various other procedures that may be done include drawing up to 6 tablespoons of blood, some of which will be used for DNA (genetic) studies, X-rays, echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), eye examination, hearing test, sleep study, sperm analysis and skin biopsy (surgical removal of a small piece of skin done under local anesthetic). There may be additional evaluations by specialists in rheumatology, rehabilitation medicine and orthopedics. When the tests and examinations are completed (after 2 to 3 days), a doctor will discuss the results with the patient. Patients whose DNA studies show that a gene change is responsible for their disorder will meet with a genetics nurse or counselor to review the results, express their feelings and ask any questions they may have. Patients may be asked to return to NIH every 6 months to 2 years for continued follow-up. Medical management will be provided primarily by the patient's own physician.

Participating family members will be interviewed by telephone about their personal and family health history and will have a blood sample drawn for DNA testing. If a gene change is found that is responsible for the bone disorder or growth problem in the family, arrangements will be made for the family member to discuss the implications of the findings with a genetics specialist.

Read the detailed description

We will investigate the clinical manifestations and molecular genetic defects of human skeletal dysplasias and generalized short stature. Families with skeletal dysplasias or short stature of known or suspected genetic basis will be enrolled. Affected individuals or individuals suspected of having a skeletal dysplasia will undergo periodic clinical assessment and genetic analyses for the purpose of: 1) definition and characterization of phenotype, 2) determination of the natural history of the disorder, and 3) genotype/phenotype correlation. Genetic linkage studies may be performed for disorders in which the genetic bases is not yet known.

02

Conditions studied

  • Developmental Bone Disease
  • Dwarfism
  • Skeletal Dysplasias

Keywords

  • Dwarfism
  • Gene Mapping
  • Linkage
  • Mutation Analysis
  • Skeletal Biology
  • Brachydactyly Types C & E
  • Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia
  • Ellis Van Crevald
  • FgFR-3
  • Proximal Symphalangism
  • Pyknodysotosis
  • Schmid Metaphyseal
  • Short Stature
  • Skeletal Dysplasia
  • Type II Collagen Disorder
03

In context

Bone Diseases

261 studies on the registry are indexed under Bone Diseases; 49 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 600 is above the median of 100 across 101 observational studies indexed under Bone Diseases.

Browse Bone Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is the lead sponsor of 199 studies on the registry; 32 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
Child (0–17), Adult (18–64), Older adult (65+)
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Patients with known or suspected skeletal dysplasias or short stature and their family members of any age will be recruited worldwide from diverse medical communities including genetics, orthopedics, ophthalmology, and pediatrics.

DISEASE CATEGORY I:

Individuals and family members with a suspected or an established diagnosis of any FGFR3 disorder, type II collagen disorder, Schmid metaphyseal dysplasia, pyknodysostosis, proximal symphalangism, or brachydactyly type C.

DISEASE CATEGORY II:

Individuals and family members with a suspected or an established diagnosis of a skeletal dysplasia in which the disease gene is not yet known, including: Ellis van Crevald, brachydactyly types B and E, and cartilage-hair hypoplasia.

DISEASE CATEGORY III:

Individuals and family members who have previously uncharacterized systemic manifestations suggestive of a skeletal dysplasias, with clinical findings of: disproportionate or proportionate short stature; and/or cleft palate; and/or detached retina; and/or history of loose joints or frequent joint dislocation; and/or history of, or family history of, premature arthritis.

Short Stature Category I: Individuals with generalized short stature and their family members. This includes adults with abnormal stature as statistically defined from standardized growth charts.

Must be able to give informed consent, older children (greater than or equal to 7 years old) who do not give assent, or persons who are wards of the state will be excluded from the study.

05

Study design

Enrollment
600 participants
06

Study locations

1 site
  • National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
    Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Bellus GA, Hefferon TW, Ortiz de Luna RI, Hecht JT, Horton WA, Machado M, Kaitila I, McIntosh I, Francomano CA. Achondroplasia is defined by recurrent G380R mutations of FGFR3. Am J Hum Genet. 1995 Feb;56(2):368-73. PubMed 7847369 ↗
  • Bellus GA, McIntosh I, Smith EA, Aylsworth AS, Kaitila I, Horton WA, Greenhaw GA, Hecht JT, Francomano CA. A recurrent mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 causes hypochondroplasia. Nat Genet. 1995 Jul;10(3):357-9. doi: 10.1038/ng0795-357. PubMed 7670477 ↗
  • Bogaert R, Tiller GE, Weis MA, Gruber HE, Rimoin DL, Cohn DH, Eyre DR. An amino acid substitution (Gly853-->Glu) in the collagen alpha 1(II) chain produces hypochondrogenesis. J Biol Chem. 1992 Nov 5;267(31):22522-6. PubMed 1429602 ↗
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 4, 2008, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00001754
Lead sponsor
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
First posted
Dec 10, 2002
Start date
Jun 1998
Completion
May 2001
Last update
Mar 4, 2008
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2000. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion