Clinical trial NCT06259071: MuSK Myasthenia 1000 Study
Official title: Genome Wide Association Study of Patients With Muscle Specific Kinase Myasthenia Gravis
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Conditions: Myasthenia Gravis
MuSK MG
MuSK Myasthenia Gravis
Lead sponsor: Myasthenia Gravis Rare Disease Network
Sponsor class: NETWORK
First posted: 2024-02-14
Enrollment: 1000
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 7
Maximum age (years): 99
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Observational model: OTHER
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: musk myasthenia gravis patients

Brief summary: The MuSK myasthenia gravis 1000 study seeks to collect saliva samples from 1000 subjects with laboratory confirmed diagnosis of MuSK myasthenia to identify genetic variations associated with MuSK MG. The data collected may be used by researchers to gain a better understanding of the cause of MuSK MG and to identify biomarkers and targeted therapy for MuSK MG.

Detailed description: Myasthenia gravis is a rare, neuromuscular (disease of the muscle and nerves) autoimmune disease characterized by weakness of the muscles. MG has a prevalence of approximately 14-40 per 100,000 people in the United States. There is no cure for MG, however understanding the disease is crucial to pave the way for development of new therapies. Important to note, the most common subtype of MG associated with Acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AChR) are found in more than 80% of patients with generalized myasthenia gravis, whereas muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) antibodies are found in only 8% of MG patients. These are found in patients with the AChR antibodies. Since the discovery of MuSK antibodies in patients, much has been learned. It has become clear that MuSK antibody MG differs in many ways from AChR antibody MG. There is some information that specific genetic factors play a role in development of MuSK MG.

Our objective is to collect saliva samples from 1000 subjects with laboratory confirmed diagnosis of MuSK myasthenia. These saliva samples will be then sent to the laboratory of Bryan Traynor who directs the Neurogenetics Laboratory at NIH. Dr. Traynor will conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS). This study will provide important information of genetic factors leading to MuSK MG.

GWAS, also known as genome-wide association study, is a study performed to identify genetic characteristics associated with a particular disease. GWAS is currently used across various disciplines in medicine to better understand complex conditions where genetic risk factors contribute to the development of diseases.

Presently, this study has not been done in patients with MuSK MG. Researchers can use information from this study to develop quality treatment and ultimately, move toward targeted therapy approach for patients. We hope to find unique results and further enhance myasthenia research.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Lab test confirming diagnosis of MuSK myasthenia gravis
* Willingness to provide saliva sample via mail or in person

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to provide informed consent
* Unwillingness to provide lab results of elevated muscle specific kinase antibody
* Unwillingness to provide saliva sample

Primary outcomes:
measure: GWAS
timeFrame: 2 years
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Washington
country: United States
facility: George Washington University
state: District of Columbia
Study officials:
References:
citation: Renton AE, Pliner HA, Provenzano C, Evoli A, Ricciardi R, Nalls MA, Marangi G, Abramzon Y, Arepalli S, Chong S, Hernandez DG, Johnson JO, Bartoccioni E, Scuderi F, Maestri M, Gibbs JR, Errichiello E, Chio A, Restagno G, Sabatelli M, Macek M, Scholz SW, Corse A, Chaudhry V, Benatar M, Barohn RJ, McVey A, Pasnoor M, Dimachkie MM, Rowin J, Kissel J, Freimer M, Kaminski HJ, Sanders DB, Lipscomb B, Massey JM, Chopra M, Howard JF Jr, Koopman WJ, Nicolle MW, Pascuzzi RM, Pestronk A, Wulf C, Florence J, Blackmore D, Soloway A, Siddiqi Z, Muppidi S, Wolfe G, Richman D, Mezei MM, Jiwa T, Oger J, Drachman DB, Traynor BJ. A genome-wide association study of myasthenia gravis. JAMA Neurol. 2015 Apr;72(4):396-404. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.4103.
citation: Green JD, Barohn RJ, Bartoccion E, Benatar M, Blackmore D, Chaudhry V, Chopra M, Corse A, Dimachkie MM, Evoli A, Florence J, Freimer M, Howard JF, Jiwa T, Kaminski HJ, Kissel JT, Koopman WJ, Lipscomb B, Maestri M, Marino M, Massey JM, McVey A, Mezei MM, Muppidi S, Nicolle MW, Oger J, Pascuzzi RM, Pasnoor M, Pestronk A, Provenzano C, Ricciardi R, Richman DP, Rowin J, Sanders DB, Siddiqi Z, Soloway A, Wolfe GI, Wulf C, Drachman DB, Traynor BJ. Epidemiological evidence for a hereditary contribution to myasthenia gravis: a retrospective cohort study of patients from North America. BMJ Open. 2020 Sep 18;10(9):e037909. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037909.