This is a medical research study to test a medication in patients with a disease called Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex (PDC) Deficiency. The medication is triheptanoin, which is currently FDA approved for the treatment of Long-Chain Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders. Previous research suggests that triheptanoin may also be effective in the treatment PDC Deficiency. This study will investigate the safety and efficacy (how well it works) of triheptanoin in patients with PDC Deficiency.
Participation in the study will require the patient to participate in up to 10 visits over a two-year period. Five of those visits must be done at the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP). Other visits can take place at CHP or remotely. All of these visits will include blood draws. Triheptanoin will be added to the patients' diet and administered at least 4 times per day. The target dose will be 1.2-3.9 g of triheptanoin per kg body weight with a max goal dose of about 4 g/kg per day. The triheptanoin will be provided to the patients at no cost. All other costs will be billed to the patients' insurance.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
6
Open-label design with doses of triheptanoin up to 4.0 gm/kg triheptanoin
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
RECRUITINGNumber of participants who report side-effects related to gastrointestinal (GI) distress
Time frame: 24 months
Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (lactate)
Change in lactate levels, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in mmol/L
Time frame: 24 months
Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (pyruvate)
Change in pyruvate levels, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in mg/dl
Time frame: 24 months
Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (β-hydroxybutyrate level)
Change in β-hydroxybutyrate levels, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in mmol/L
Time frame: 24 months
Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (Alanine/Leucine ratio)
Change in Alanine/Leucine ratios, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in μmol/L
Time frame: 24 months
Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (Alanine/Lysine ratio)
Change in Alanine/Lysine ratios, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in μmol/L
Time frame: 24 months
Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (Alanine/Proline ratio)
Change in Alanine/Proline ratios, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in μmol/L
Time frame: 24 months
More efficacious seizure control
Measured by a reduction or alteration of home antiepileptics use, from before and after triheptanoin is initiated
Time frame: 24 months
More efficacious metabolic control
Measured by a reduction in episodes of metabolic decompensation, from before and after triheptanoin is initiated
Time frame: 24 months
More efficacious disease control
Measured by a reduction in the frequency of disease related hospitalizations, from before and after triheptanoin is initiated
Time frame: 24 months
Improved quality of life
Measured by a change in scores on the PedsQL, from before and after trihepatnoin is initiated
Time frame: 24 months
Improved long-term maintenance and tolerance of diet
Measured by parental report of diet maintenance and tolerance, from before and after triheptanoin is initiated
Time frame: 24 months
Improved quality of life
Measured by a change in scores on the MetabQoL, from before and after trihepatnoin is initiated
Time frame: 24 months
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