The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and safety of administering rapalogues, sirolimus or everolimus, in participants with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) and self-injury and to measure cognitive and behavioral changes, including reduction in autistic symptoms, self-injurious and aggressive behaviors, as well as improvements in cognition across multiple domains of cognitive function.
This is a feasibility and safety study primarily designed to assess the feasibility and safety of conducting a larger clinical trial with sirolimus in individuals with TSC. The present study will employ an ABA design in which three pediatric participants will be selected to receive baseline medical, developmental, behavioral, and cognitive evaluations, followed by a 26 week administration of sirolimus, repeated baseline assessments at the end of the 26 week treatment phase, and a 4 week titrated withdrawal followed by a 22 week period in which no rapalogue is administered. All participants will again be administered baseline medical, behavioral, and cognitive evaluations at the end of the study in order to compare all evaluations done at baseline, the end of the 26 week treatment, and completion of the study. These comparisons will be done to assess secondary outcomes that include reductions in autistic symptoms, self-injury, and aggression, as well as improvements in cognitive function across multiple domains. Furthermore, administration of the secondary outcome measures will also allow us to better understand the sensitivity of these measures in patients with TSC during the course of a clinical trial. Families of potentially eligible children who express interest in the study and meet prescreening criteria will be invited to attend a screening visit to determine eligibility, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and availability for eight additional study visits. Prior to enrollment, informed consent will be obtained from the parent or legal guardian. Investigators will use the methods of analysis of single-subject research (ABA design, where first A represents baseline, B represents treatment, and A represents reversal of treatment. The analysis will focus on each of the 3 subjects separately. Data on feasibility and safety (primary outcome) and on frequency of disruptive behavior (secondary outcome) will be plotted and visually inspected to detect any temporal changes by phase: 1. Baseline, 2. Treatment, 3. After treatment. Data in each phase will be summarized as mean +/- standard deviation (SD). We will use the summary data to assess the potential effect of the intervention. Consistency of the effect will be examined across the 3 study participants.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Number of Participants With Compliance to the Treatment Protocol.
One outcome measurement of feasibility will include family/patient compliance with the treatment protocol, which will be assessed and documented at every study visit and telephone follow-up call, by the physician and/or study team member. This was calculated by calculating dividing the total number of study visits and study assessments completed by the total number of study visits and study assessments indicated by the treatment protocol.
Time frame: Change from baseline to EOT visit 12 week 53
Caregiver Burden
The Caregiver Burden Scale is a standard set of questions which will be used to measure the non-medical impact of TSC on caregivers and how it affects the feasibility of study completion. The Caregiver's Burden Scale (CBS) is a 22-item scale that assess subjectively experienced burden by caregiver's to chronically disabled persons. maximum scores: 88 \& Minumum scores: 22 High values represent a worse outcome
Time frame: Change from baseline to EOT visit 12 week 53
Feasibility Measurements of Parental Stress
Measurements of stress will be administered. Specifically, we will use the Parental Stress Index. Quantifying stress, as well as compliance with the study protocol, will allow investigators to objectively assess the feasibility of a larger clinical trial of sirolimus in patients with TSC. Parental stress index maximum score: 180 Parental stress index minimum score: 36 higher raw scores indicate higher levels of stress.
Time frame: Change from baseline to EOT visit 12 week 53
Total Number of Aggressions or Self-injuries
This is the total number of aggressions or self-injuries for all participants.
Time frame: 1 year
Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Capute Scale
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
3
Score range maximum: 100 Score range minimum: 0 High values represent a high cognitive function Below 70 is abnormal. 70-100 is the normal range.
Time frame: 1 year
Repetitive Behavior
Repetitive behavior will be assessed using the Repetitive Behavior Scale - revised, a questionnaire to characterize several domains of repetitive behavior including ritualistic behavior, stereotypic behavior, self-injurious behavior, compulsive behavior, and restricted interests. There are 36 items on the scale. Behaviors are rated on a 4-point scale: 0-Behavior does not occur, 1-Behavior occurs and is a mild problem, 2-Behavior occurs and is a moderate problem, 3-Behavior occurs and is a severe problem. Maximum score: 108 \& minimum score: 0 A high score represents the worse outcome
Time frame: 1 year
Self-Injury Trauma Scale--SIT Scale
The SIT Scale is a 3-part clinician-completed scale used to quantify visible injuries caused by self-injurious behavior(SIB). Part 1 includes sections to indicate SIB topographies and any evidence of healed injury. In Part 2 evaluators document the location and severity of injury (on a 3-point scale). In Part 3, respective scores from Parts 1 and 2 are summed to obtain a Number Index, a Severity Index, and Estimate of Current Risk. This Scale has been used in research with adults with SIB with inter-rater reliability averaging 85%. Maximum score: 100 Minimum score: 0 High score represent worse outcome.
Time frame: 1 year
Frequency of Seizures Assessed by Total Number of Seizures
Parents will be asked to document the frequency of their child's seizures using a manual or electronic (seizuretracker.com) seizure diary. The total number of seizures at baseline for all participants.
Time frame: at baseline