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CompletedNCT00721864Updated Aug 9, 2011

The Molecular Biology of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

An observational study in Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal, sponsored by University of Utah. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 7 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2011-08-09.

Sponsored by University of Utah · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
10
Ages
7 Years and older
Sex
All
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Study summary

This study is designed to better understand the molecular biology of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and to determine if prion protein (PrP) functions in long term hematopoietic stem cell renewal.

Read the detailed description

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombosis, and variable cytopenia. It can be associated with significant morbidity including acute kidney failure, cerebral infarction, mesenteric infarction, Budd-Chiari syndrome, aplastic anemia, and leukemic transformation. The average survival time from diagnosis is 15 years.

PNH is an acquired clonal disorder of the hematopoietic stem cell. Two distinct populations of hematopoietic cells exist in each PNH patient: one non-clonal population of normal cells, and one clonal population of PNH cells. The clonal population of PNH cells is identified by a mutation in the PIG-A gene that results in absence of the glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor of several surface proteins. Consequently, these surface proteins are unable to perform their functions on the cell surface. Deficiency of two of these surface proteins, CD55 (decay accelerating factor) and CD59 (membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis) that prevent complement mediated destruction, have been shown to underlie the clinical presentation of PNH. Identifying the mutation causing the predominant clones may help us better understand the molecular biology of PNH. When this is accomplished, new therapies to control and eventually cure the disease can be designed.

In addition, we propose to determine the function of PrP in human hematopoietic stem cells. PrP is a glycoprotein attached to the cell membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. In PNH, a disorder whose pathogenesis lies in the absence of GPI anchors, PrP expression is reduced in monocytes and granulocytes from the PNH clone.

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Conditions studied

  • Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal

Keywords

  • Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
  • PIG-A Mutation
  • Prion Protein
  • Hematopoietic stem cells
  • Clonal disorder
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In context

Hemoglobinuria

107 studies on the registry are indexed under Hemoglobinuria; 10 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 10 is below the median of 64 across 16 observational studies indexed under Hemoglobinuria.

Browse Hemoglobinuria studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Utah is the lead sponsor of 969 studies on the registry; 178 are open to participants now.

Of its 107 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 62 (58%) have results posted.

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

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
7 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)

Inclusion criteria

  1. Subjects suspected of or diagnosed with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
  2. Age > 7

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Those not meeting the inclusion criteria
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Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
10 participants (actual)
Biospecimen retention
Samples with dna

Groups and cohorts

  • Affected Population

    Subjects suspected of having Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Identify the mutation causing the predominant clones through analysis of extracted DNA/RNA from erythroid colonies

    Time frame: After sample is obtained

Secondary outcomes

  1. Reconfirmation of PrP expression in human granulocytes, hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells

    Time frame: After sample is obtained

  2. Analysis of PrP function in human long term hematopoietic stem cells

    Time frame: After sample is obtained

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Study locations

1 site
  • University of Utah
    Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, United States
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References and documents

Publications

  • Durig J, Giese A, Schmucker U, Kretzschmar HA, Duhrsen U. Decreased prion protein expression in human peripheral blood leucocytes from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Br J Haematol. 2001 Mar;112(3):658-62. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2001.02602.x. PubMed 11260069 ↗
  • Risitano AM, Holada K, Chen G, Simak J, Vostal JG, Young NS, Maciejewski JP. CD34+ cells from paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) patients are deficient in surface expression of cellular prion protein (PrPc). Exp Hematol. 2003 Jan;31(1):65-72. doi: 10.1016/s0301-472x(02)01011-1. PubMed 12543108 ↗
  • Zhang CC, Steele AD, Lindquist S, Lodish HF. Prion protein is expressed on long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells and is important for their self-renewal. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Feb 14;103(7):2184-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0510577103. Epub 2006 Feb 7. PubMed 16467153 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 9, 2011, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00721864
Lead sponsor
University of Utah
Collaborators
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
First posted
Jul 25, 2008
Start date
May 2006
Primary completion
Dec 2010
Completion
Dec 2010
Last update
Aug 9, 2011

Study contacts

Josef T Prchal, MD
principal investigator · University of Utah

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2011. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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