Treatment of Rapid Onset Obesity, Hypoventilation, Hypothalamic Dysfunction, and Autonomic Dysregulation (ROHHAD )

Johns Hopkins University

Overview

ROHHAD (rapid onset obesity, hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, and autonomic dysregulation) syndrome is a rare pediatric disorder associated with a cancer called neuroblastoma and presumed to be driven by an attack of the immune system on specific area in the brain. Patients develop severe symptoms and often succumb to this disease. Based on the researchers' experience the investigators conduct a clinical trial to study intensive immunosuppression with high-dose cyclophosphamide in these patients. In addition to describing the symptomatic improvement, the investigators' trial seeks to define objective markers of disease activity.

Baseline evaluation will include: Sleep study and pulmonary evaluation Hormone levels Determination of up to 6 key ROHHAD-related symptoms to be followed Hyperphagia questionnaire 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scan Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis Patients will be treated with cyclophosphamide, 50 mg/kg (ideal body weight)/dose daily for 4 days, with Mesna and hydration as prophylaxis against hemorrhagic cystitis. Supportive care will include mucosal care, transfusions, infection prophylaxis, and empiric treatment for febrile neutropenia. Composite severity score will be assessed to measure response of key symptoms, and formal neuropsychological testing, sleep study, and hormone studies will be performed.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Conditions

ROHHAD Syndrome

Interventions

CyclophosphamideDRUG

Cyclophosphamide will be given by vein once a day for four straight days. Ten days after starting cyclophosphamide, filgrastim, a drug that helps normal blood cells to grow, by vein once every day to try to help your blood cells grow faster.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 12 MonthsMax age: 22 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of ROHHAD syndrome confirmed by two physicians. * Any symptomatic improvement in response to a course of rituximab (five weekly doses) as assessed by parents and/or treating physician * Normal brain MRI * Cared for at home by the family * Patients requiring bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) support are eligible * Negative pregnancy test for post pubertal female patients Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiac ejection fraction \<40% or shortening fraction \<20%. * Inadequate pulmonary function, i.e. forced vital capacity or forced expiratory volume at one second \< 50% of predicted for children greater than 8 years of age, or oxygen saturation \<93% on pulse oximetry for younger children. * Ventilator dependent * Known chromosomal abnormality * Active cancer diagnosis. Neuroblastoma that requires only follow up is eligible. * Pregnancy

Locations (1)

Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Symptomatic improvement on the ROHHAD Symptoms Scale of children with ROHHAD syndrome after treatment with high-dose cyclophosphamide .

Time frame: 18 months

Safety and toxicity of high-dose cyclophosphamide used to treat children with ROHHAD of as measured by NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0.

Time frame: 18 months

Secondary Outcomes

To calculate Area Under Curve (AUC) of high dose cyclophosphamide in obese children.

Time frame: predose, 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hrs from the completion of infusion.

Neuropsychological function of patients with ROHHAD before and after high-dose cyclophosphamide measured using complementary age appropriate evaluation tools including Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence RAN objects, and AIM.

Time frame: 18 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.