Nitric Oxide Production in MELAS Syndrome

Completed · Early Phase 1

Conditions studied: MELAS Syndrome

In brief

Introduction Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital are recruiting individuals with MELAS syndrome for a clinical study. MELAS syndrome is a mitochondrial disease; patients with this disease have muscle weakness and often develop brain strokes, where blood does not flow normally to different parts of the brain. It is believed that these strokes could be due to decreased production of nitric oxide, a naturally occurring compound important for normal blood vessel function. Nitric oxide is made from arginine and citrulline that are normally found in our bodies. What is the purpose of this study? The purpose of this study is to measure nitric oxide in individuals with MELAS and see if giving arginine or citrulline will increase the formation of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is thought to be helpful in preventing strokes. Therefore, if arginine and/or citrulline are shown to increase the formation of nitric oxide, they could be used to prevent or treat the strokes in patients with MELAS syndrome.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01339494

Run by

Baylor College of Medicine

People needed

30

Starts

2009-07-01

Expected to finish

2016-04-01

Last updated by the study team

2016-04-05

Who can join

Age: 3 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age from 3 - 65 years
• Clinical diagnosis of MELAS syndrome
• Carrying the m.3243A>G mutation

You may not qualify if…

• Having acute or chronic disease or physical disability that will interfere with the ability to undergo the study procedures
• Being pregnant

Where it is running

• Texas Children's Hospital — Houston, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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