A Controlled Trial of Growth Hormone in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome and Idiopathic Autism

Phase

Condition

Autism

Asperger's Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd)

Treatment

Saline

Growth Hormone

Clinical Study ID

NCT05187377

STUDY-18-00245

GCO 17-1159

R01NS105845

Ages 2-12
All Genders

Study Summary

This clinical trial will use growth hormone as a novel treatment for Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) and idiopathic autism. A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial design will be used in 30 children with idiopathic autism and 15 children with PMS to evaluate the the effects of growth hormone on visual evoked potentials (VEPs), socialization, language, and repetitive behaviors. The researchers expect to provide evidence for the feasibility of using VEPs in PMS, and to show support for growth hormone in ameliorating clinical symptoms of ASD.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

Children between 2 and 12 years of age
Open epiphyses on bone age x ray
Must be on stable medication and psychosocial treatment regimens for at least threemonths prior to enrollment, assuming the concomitant medication is safe for use withGrowth Hormone
No prior use of Growth Hormone or IGF-1
ASD group: Meet DSM-5 criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder confirmed by the AutismDiagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule,Second Edition (ADOS-2); absence of known pathogenic copy number variants
PMS group: Known pathogenic deletions or mutations in SHANK3 gene diagnosed by arrayCGH and/or direct sequencing

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

Closed epiphyses
Active or suspected neoplasia
Intracranial hypertension
Hepatic insufficiency
Renal insufficiency
Cardiomegaly/valvulopathy
History of allergy to growth hormone or any component of the formulation (mecasermin)
Patients with comorbid conditions who are deemed too medically compromised totolerate the risk of experimental treatment with growth hormone (including severeobesity, sleep apnea, and various acute health conditions)
Visual problems that preclude the use of VEP

Study Design

Saline

January 19, 2022

February 05, 2025

Study Description

This study will show that select electrophysiological markers in PMS are relevant to iASD and predictive of treatment response with growth hormone. The long-term goal is to optimize treatment selection in iASD by establishing biological signature(s) derived from PMS. The expected outcome is to establish the feasibility of electrophysiological biomarkers for use in clinical trials in PMS and iASD, demonstrate efficacy of growth hormone in PMS and iASD, and to define a biological profile that will mark a subset of patients with iASD likely to show clinical response to growth hormone.

The study will enroll 45 children (15 PMS; 30 iASD; age 2-12 years) and administer growth hormone/placebo as once daily subcutaneous injection for 12 weeks at standard doses. The study team will monitor baseline anthropometric measures, laboratory parameters for growth, IGF-1 levels, and bone age throughout the study. Evaluations will include validated behavioral scales. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) will be used as biomarkers of visual sensory reactivity.

Growth Hormone is approved by the FDA for the treatment of children with short stature due to primary growth hormone deficiency, among several other indications. It is being used off-label in the current study and is not FDA approved for use in PMS or ASD.

Connect with a study center

Seaver Autism Center for Research & Treatment
New York, New York 10029
United States
Site Not Available

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