Official Record of Patients Diagnosed With Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)

Overview

Pulmonary lymphoangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare destructive lung disease typically affecting women of childbearing age. Currently, there is no effective therapy for the disease and the prognosis is poor. In order to better study this disease, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has developed a registry to keep an official record of patients diagnosed with LAM. This research project will collect data from 6 health care centers as well as outside physicians. Researchers hope to provide valuable information about the rate of lung destruction and quality of life in patients with LAM. Patients participating in this study will be followed for 5 years. Tissue collected from these patients may contribute to the development of future studies on the disease processes of LAM.

LAM is a rare disease that predominantly affects women of child-bearing age. To study in more detail this rare disease, this multi-center project will establish a registry of persons with LAM. By combining data from 6 centers and outside physicians, this study may yield valuable information regarding the rate of decline in pulmonary function and quality of life in individuals with LAM. These patients will be followed over a five-year period. Tissue collected from study participants may facilitate future studies into the molecular basis of LAM.

Conditions

Eligibility