Conditions: Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome
Keywords: cholesterol Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome mental retardation sterols congenital anomalies
Allocation: NA | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 23
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to determine whether supplementation with an oil-based cholesterol suspension will correct the biochemical abnormalities in cholesterol and its precursors in individuals with the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.

Detailed description:
This study involves treating individuals with the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, a rare inborn error of cholesterol metabolism, with supplemental cholesterol to determine it effects on biochemical sterol metabolites, growth, neuropsychological development, ophthalmologic and auditory function, ERG (electroretinogram) parameters, and CNS metabolites as determined by brain MRS-imaging. Safety of the supplemental cholesterol suspension is monitored by tests of hematologic, renal, and liver function at periodic intervals. There is also a substudy that is investigating potential genotype-phenotype correlations, as well as another that studies biochemical parameters of light sensitivity in cultured skin fibroblasts from affected patients.

Arms:
arm 1: None

Interventions: intervention 1: crystalline cholesterol oil-based suspension
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 200 mg/mL suspension of crystalline cholesterol in oil. Dosage (generally 75-300 mg/kg/day in divided doses) is based on initial cholesterol levels and regulated to increase, yet maintain, cholesterol levels no higher than normal ranges.

Protocol document: