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Natural History, Pathogenesis and Outcome of Melorheostosis A Rare Osteosclerotic Disease

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) · NCT02504879

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–90 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Observational
Target enrollment
350
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
August 16, 2015
Record last updated
October 2, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

Background

  • The rare disease melorheostosis causes bones to thicken. This may lead to pain, and can affect bones, joints, and muscles. Researchers want to learn more about the disease and how it progresses.

Objective

-To see what happens to people with melorheostosis over time and understand the causes of the disease.

Eligibility

  • People 18 and over with melorheostosis.
  • Their unaffected relatives.

Design

  • All participants will have a medical history and physical exam.
  • Participants who are relatives will give samples of blood or cheek cells.
  • Other participants will be in the study for about 1 week.
  • They will have blood and urine collected.
  • Strength, walking, and range of motion will be measured.
  • Participants may also have
  • X-rays and scans.
  • A pain and neurological evaluation.
  • Their skin evaluated by a dermatologist.
  • A small sample of bone taken.
  • Nerve conduction studies. Small electrodes with to wires will be put on the skin. A metal probe will give a small electrical shock.
  • Electromyography. A thin needle will be placed into the muscles.
  • An ultrasound, which uses sound waves to examine the muscles and nerves. An ultrasound probe will be placed over the skin.
  • A bone scan. They will get a small amount of radioactive fluid through a needle in an arm vein. This fluid travels to the bones. The bones will be photographed in a machine.
  • Bone Densitometry, a low-level x-ray.
  • Photographs taken.
  • A small circle of skin removed with a surgical instrument.
  • Questionnaires about their quality of life.
  • Participants will be asked to return about every 2 years. At these visits, participants may have blood and urine tests and x-rays.

Conditions: Rheumatic Disease

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria
  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

All eligible patients are invited to participate in this protocol. Patients are adults aged > 18 years with possible melorheostosis (suspected or confirmed). Since both men and women are affected with the disease, both sexes will be studied. All ethnic and racial groups are at risk and will be included.

Relatives of patients with melorheostosis may be included for genetic testing only.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

  • Pregnant or lactating women. A pregnancy test is performed in women of childbearing potential (up to age 55) unless they have a history of hysterectomy or tubal ligation.
  • Children (age less than 18 years) are excluded.
  • Subjects with severe active infection or other co-morbidities that in the opinion of the investigator would warrant exclusion.
  • Subjects unable to provide informed consent.

Recruiting US locations

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    Bethesda, MD 20892

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Nancy A Spencer · (301) 435-8434 · nancy.spencer@nih.gov
  • Dale M Kobrin, M.D. · (301) 827-9187 · dale.kobrin@nih.gov
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Natural History, Pathogenesis and Outcome of Melorheostosis A Rare… (NCT02504879) | Bored Studies