Natural History of Bronchiectasis

Sponsor

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (NIH)

Overall Status

Recruiting

CT.gov ID

NCT00943514

Collaborator

(none)

900

Enrollment

Location

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Background:

Bronchiectasis is a disease characterized by airways that are inflamed, abnormally dilated, and chronically infected. Individuals with bronchiectasis have a history of chronic and recurring respiratory infections. Depending on the underlying cause, these infections may involve the entire respiratory tract, resulting in sinus, ear, and lung disease.
Bronchiectasis continues to be a significant problem in developing countries and in specific groups of individuals, particularly in people who have cystic fibrosis. Although treatments are available or under development for bronchiectasis related to cystic fibrosis, many of the disease-specific treatments may not be effective for bronchiectasis not related to cystic fibrosis.

Objectives:

To study the natural history of bronchiectasis to identify inherited and immune factors that may explain why certain individuals have chronic recurring infections.

Eligibility:

Individuals 5 years of age and older who have an established diagnosis of bronchiectasis or a history of chronic/recurring respiratory infections.
Direct family members (e.g., parents, siblings, children) of patients in the study may also be asked to participate.

Design:

Potential participants will be screened with an initial clinic evaluation and full medical history, as well as a general quality of life and respiratory symptom questionnaire.
The following standard procedures may be done as part of the study: air sampling from the nose; imaging studies, which may include an x-ray or computed tomography (CT), lung function tests; and collection of samples of blood, urine, and sputum (phlegm or mucus). Other tests may be performed as required by the researchers, and will be explained to patients as needed.
Both patients and relatives (if asked to participate) will provide the following samples: blood or buccal (cheek swab) cells for genetic testing, sputum, and urine.
To prevent infections and potential disease progression, patients may receive standard medical care and treatment for bronchiectasis and related infections during this protocol.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Bronchiectasis Cystic Fibrosis Autoimmune Disease Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Detailed Description

Bronchiectasis, or abnormal dilation of the airways, is a condition typically characterized by chronic and recurring respiratory tract infections. Frequently, depending on the underlying cause, these infections involve the entire respiratory tract resulting in sinus, ear, and lung disease. This condition used to be more common in children prior to immunizations for childhood infections. It continues to be a significant problem in developing countries and in specific groups of individuals in the U.S. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most commonly associated genetic condition and tremendous strides have been made in recent years in understanding the mechanisms of this disease that are leading to a multitude of emerging novel treatment strategies. The mechanisms of other causes for bronchiectasis have not evolved to this degree, and many of the disease-specific treatments being assessed for cystic fibrosis may not be effective for non-CF bronchiectasis. Often bronchiectasis can be associated with chronic infections from environmental germs such as the nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Study Design

Study Type:

Observational

Anticipated Enrollment :

900 participants

Observational Model:

Other

Time Perspective:

Prospective

Official Title:

Natural History of Bronchiectasis

Actual Study Start Date :

Aug 1, 2009

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
1 chronic or recurring respiratory infections including pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease
2 Relatives

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Identify causes and/or underlying conditions associated with bronchiectasis [Patients will be seen at least every 6 months for the first 2 years, and then at 1-5 year intervals to follow the course of their disease for 5 years or until they no longer wish to return.]
Diagnosis of underlying associated conditions such as: a) Variant cystic fibrosis through assessment of sweat chloride, and genetics b) Primary ciliary dyskinesia through assessment of nasal nitric oxide production, genetics, and/or mucosal scrapes for real-time video microscopy of ciliary movement and transmission electron microscopy of ciliary ultrastructure c) Primary immunodeficiency through measurement of quantitative immunoglobulins, specific antigen responses, and lymphocyte phenotyping d) Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis through measurement of total immunoglobulin E, fungal serologies, and skin test responses e) Autoimmune disease by screening for associated conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis f) Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency by assessment of protein levels, phenotype, and genetics g) Marfanoid morphotypic features by echocardiography and body anthropometric measurements in adult patients

Secondary Outcome Measures

Monitor a cohort of bronchiectasis patients to better understand factors associated with progression of disease and to assess outcomes of management and therapeutic strategies. [Patients will be seen at least every 6 months for the first 2 years, and then at 1-5 year intervals to follow the course of their disease for 5 years or until they no longer wish to return.]
1) Assessment of genetic, systemic immune, and/or epithelial surface defense mechanisms involved in airway infection susceptibility and/or in the development of bronchiectasis through the: a) Collection and storage of blood and sputum b) Use and storage of other relevant biologic specimens, such as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or respiratory epithelium collected under separate protocols or for clinical purposes 2) Assessment of clinical outcomes utilizing standardized measures during follow-up visits to include: a) St. George s Respiratory Questionnaire b) Pulmonary Symptom Severity Score c) Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale d) Six-minute walk assessment: distance in meters, minimum oxygen saturation, maximum heart rate e) Computerized tomography score f) Spirometry: percent of predicted normal for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) and forced vital capacity (FVC%) g) Lower airway microbiology
Define mechanisms and pathophysiology for the development and progression of bronchiectasis [Patients will be seen at least every 6 months for the first 2 years, and then at 1-5 year intervals to follow the course of their disease for 5 years or until they no longer wish to return.]
Genetic, systemic immune, and/or epithelial surface defense mechanisms involved in airway infection susceptibility and/or development of bronchiectasis through the

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

5 Years and Older

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

PARTICIPANT INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Children age 5 years and above and adults referred to the NIH with chronic or recurring respiratory infections will be eligible for participation.
Males and females will be considered without regard to race or ethnicity or upper age limit.
Emphasis will be primarily on non CF bronchiectasis for elucidation of mechanisms of infection susceptibility. However, select patients with cystic fibrosis or acquired immune defects (such as HIV) may be studied if relevant host defects are suspected or if needed for comparison purposes or to evaluate and study the management of chronic pathogen associated conditions such as nontuberculous mycobacterial infections or allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
Subjects must have a primary or referring physician
Subjects must be willing to have samples stored

INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR RELATIVES:

As a part of this protocol we may obtain blood, sputum, urine, or buccal swabs from some blood relatives of patients on the study, with the hope of isolating and characterizing the primary host defense defect(s) or genetic links responsible for airway infection susceptibility and/or bronchiectasis seen within families. Male and female relatives will be accepted without limitation due to age. These relatives may have pertinent disease-related history obtained, but will neither receive treatment nor have any other protocol procedures done unless they are enrolled on the study.

PARTICIPANT EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

We wish to avoid enrolling subjects, especially children, who have common respiratory problems (aeroallergen sensitivity, asthma, gastric esophageal reflux) that are not associated with an underlying abnormality in host defenses. Evidence of significance of chronic or recurring infections suggestive of an underlying airway surface or systemic host defense defect should be documented by one or more of the following: a) sinus or lower airway cultures positive for bacterial, fungal, or mycobacterial pathogens characteristic of these defects; or b) radiographic evidence of sinusitis with mucosal thickening and/or air-fluid levels; or c) radiographic evidence of bronchiectasis; d) severity of otitis media requiring placement of tympanic membrane pressure equalization tubes; e) severity of sinusitis requiring surgical intervention.
Patients who are unable or unwilling to provide informed consent either directly or via appropriately designated surrogate.
Any patient who, in the opinion of the Investigator, is unable or unwilling to comply with regular follow-up or is unlikely to provide pertinent information regarding disease progression or response to treatment may be excluded from longitudinal follow-up.
Children under the age of 5 will be excluded from this protocol.

When a pediatric subject reaches age 18, continued participation will require reconsenting with the adult consent document.