Clinical and Basic Investigations Into Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome

Overview

Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) is an inherited disease which results in decreased pigmentation (oculocutaneous albinism), bleeding problems due to a platelet abnormality (platelet storage pool defect), and storage of an abnormal fat-protein compound (lysosomal accumulation of ceroid lipofuscin). The disease can cause poor functioning of the lungs, intestine, kidneys, or heart. The major complication of the disease is pulmonary fibrosis and typically causes death in patients ages 40 - 50 years old. The disorder is common in Puerto Rico, where many of the clinical research studies on the disease have been conducted. Neither the full extent of the disease nor the basic cause of the disease is known. There is no known treatment for HPS. The purpose of this study is to perform research into the medical complications of HPS and begin to understand what causes these complications. Researchers will clinically evaluate patients with HPS of all ethnic backgrounds. They will obtain cells, blood components (plasma), and urine for future studies. Genetic tests (mutation analysis) to detect HPS-causing genes will also be conducted.\<TAB\>...

Study Description: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disease consisting of oculocutaneous albinism, a platelet storage pool defect and, in some patients, lysosomal accumulation of ceroid lipofuscin. Other manifestations include pulmonary fibrosis (often fatal in the fourth or fifth decade), chronic granulomatous colitis and, rarely, renal involvement or cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this protocol is to evaluate individuals with HPS, perform mutation analysis for known HPS-causing genes, search for variants in other genes responsible for HPS, and obtain specimens to analyze basic mechanisms of HPS. Objectives: Primary Objective: Assess the clinical severity of HPS, to study the natural history of disease, to identify variants in genes associated with HPS, and to investigate basic defect(s) in HPS and mechanisms of disease. Study Population: All participants will be persons with HPS, or their family members, aged 1-80 years. The enrollment ceiling is 600; we estimate that approximately 200 subjects will participate only in the HPS Symptom Questionnaire. Family members who are caregivers of affected individuals, including children, may be invited to participate in the HPS Symptom Questionnaire to provide responses related to their affected relative. We anticipate enrolling 2-10 new subjects per year under this protocol.