Natural History of Eye Diseases Related to ABCA4 Mutations
Retinal Degeneration · ABCA4-Related Retinopathies
What this study involves
The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.
- Study type
- Observational
- Phase
- Not applicable / not listed
- Age range
- 12 years - 100 years
- Sex eligible
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Participants
- 68 Actual
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
About the research
Background:
\- The ABCA4 gene contains a blueprint for the ABCA4 protein. When this protein is absent or faulty (such as in Stargardt s disease), waste material from dead cells collects in the eye. The waste material may cause other cells in the eye to die. This can lead to the loss of vision. Researchers want to look at blood and skin samples from people with ABCA4 gene mutations to study related eye diseases.
Objectives:
\- To study eye diseases that are related to mutations in the ABCA4 gene.
Eligibility:
\- Individuals at least 12 years of age who have ABCA4 gene mutations.
Design:
- The study requires 12 visits to the National Eye Institute clinic over 10 years. In the first year, there will be three visits. After the first year, participants will have one visit a year for 9 more years.
- Participants will be screened with a physical exam, full eye exam, and medical history. The eye exam will check eye pressure, light and color sensitivity, and retina function.
- Participants will provide a blood sample and a skin tissue sample for study.
- No treatment will be provided as part of this study.
Read the full description
Objectives: The objectives of this study are to 1) establish a cohort of participants with ABCA4-related retinopathies in anticipation of future clinical trials, 2) create a repository of plasma, DNA, and skin fibroblast samples from the accrued cohort of ABCA4-related retinopathy participants, 3) formulate clinical outcome measures for future studies, and 4) acquire and perform preliminary analyses of data that may advance our understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations in ABCA4-related retinopathies.
In addition, the skin fibroblast samples collected from participants may be used to generate iPS cells, which may be differentiated into RPE and/or neural retinal cells. These cells, if produced, will be used to analyze molecular mechanisms involved in disease pathogenesis and to perform high throughput (HTP) drug screens to identify novel potential therapeutic compounds.
Study Population: Sixty-five (65) participants, age 12 or above, with ABCA4-related retinopathies, will be initially accrued for this study. However, up to an additional five participants may be enrolled to replace participants who may withdraw from the study prior to reaching the Month 12 visit.
Design: In this natural history study, participants will be followed for 10 years. Because three years may be required to enroll 65 participants, this study will last up to 13 years. Participants will be recruited through other pre-existing NIH protocols, such as the Ocular Natural History Protocol (16-EI-0134), The Genetics of Inherited Eye Disease Protocol (15-EI-0128), the NEI Screening Protocol (08-EI-0102), and the National Ophthalmic Disease Genotyping and Phenotyping Network, Phase II protocol (eyeGENE II, 10-EI-N164), or through referral from an outside clinician after a review of pertinent medical records and genetic testing. All participants will undergo a standardized medical/ophthalmic history and a complete baseline eye examination, that may include non-invasive electrophysiology (e.g., electroretinography), psychophysiology (e.g., microperimetry, static perimetry), and diagnostic imaging examinations (e.g., optical coherence tomography).
The participants will be examined three times over the course of the first year (i.e., baseline examination, Month 6, and Month 12). After the first year, they will return to the NEI clinic on an annual basis for the next nine years. This study will require a minimum of 12 study visits. Participants may be seen at more frequent intervals at the investigators discretion, depending on the clinical and research situation. Participants will be required to submit a blood sample as part of the study for DNA and serum banking, and they will have the option to provide a 3-mm punch skin biopsy to facilitate research at a cellular level.
Outcome Measures: The primary outcome for this study is the establishment of a cohort of participants with ABCA4-related retinopathies, and the secondary outcome is the creation of a repository of plasma, DNA, and skin fibroblast samples from the accrued cohort of ABCA4-related retinopathy participants. Exploratory outcomes for this study include: 1) the formulation of clinical outcome measures for future studies and 2) the acquisition and preliminary analysis of data that may advance our understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations in ABCA4-related retinopathies. Potential exploratory outcomes include: 1) the generation of iPS cells from the skin fibroblast samples, 2) the differentiation of the generated iPS cells into RPE and/or neural retinal cells, and 3) the use of the participant-specific RPE and/or neural retinal cells to perform HTP drug screens to identify novel potential therapeutic compounds. The cells obtained in this protocol may be genetically modified and may be used for in vivo research.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
- NCLUSION CRITERIA:
1. Participant must be 12 years of age or older.
2. Participant (or legal guardian) must understand and sign the protocol s informed consent document.
3. Participant must be able to cooperate with detailed psychophysics and electrophysiology testing.
4. Participant must be able to provide a blood sample.
5. Participant has:
* A maculopathy or retinal degeneration plus two (or more) clear mutations in the ABCA4 gene (ascertained with CLIA-certified testing) that are known to be associated with retinal disease,
OR
-One clear mutation in ABCA4 associated with a classic presentation of fundus flavimaculatus/Stargardt macular dystrophy (e.g., flecks, macular atrophy) and no pathogenic mutation(s) in other genes known to cause macular dystrophy.
OR
-One clear mutation in ABCA4, a cone-rod degeneration and no clearly pathogenic mutation(s) in other genes known to cause cone-rod degeneration.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Participant has evidence of a systemic condition or ocular disease not related to ABCA4 mutations that would complicate the analysis of psychophysical, electrophysiological, or imaging data. For example, a participant with advanced diabetes mellitus and significant diabetic retinopathy may display changes in retinal function that could be related to either his/her diabetic retinopathy or ABCA4 mutations.
Study population
Participants will be recruited from other NEI protocols, such as the Ocular Natural History Protocol (16-EI-0134), the Genetics of Inherited Eye Disease Protocol (15-EI-0128), the NEI Screening Protocol (08-EI-0102), and/or the National Ophthalmic Disease Genotyping and Phenotyping Network, Phase II Protocol (eyeGENE II, 10-EI-N164), or through referral from an outside clinician after a review of pertinent medical records and genetic test results.
Understand screeningTreatment, groups and participation
The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.
- Assignment
- Not reported
- Masking
- Not reported
Affected Participants
Participants with ABCA4-related retinopathies.
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
Establish cohort
Time frame: Over the study duration
Establish a cohort of participants with ABCA4 retinopathies in anticipation of future clinical trials.
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (1)
The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.
1 locations
National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesda, Maryland, United StatesStatus unknown
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- National Eye Institute (NEI)
- Study start
- Oct 9, 2012 Actual
- Primary completion
- Not reported
- Study completion
- Not reported
- First posted
- Nov 29, 2012 Estimated
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
No central contact is listed. Check the locations and the official record.
Official study title
Natural History of ABCA4-Related Retinopathies
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026