๐Ÿ›๏ธ Verified NIH Record โ€ข Updated 2026-08-27

Natural History, Physiology, Microbiome and Biochemistry Studies of Propionic Acidemia (NCT02890342)

The Natural History, Physiology, Microbiome and Biochemistry Studies of Propionic Acidemia

๐ŸŸข Recruiting Interventional Protocol ๐Ÿ“Š Observational Clinical Research Sponsor: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

๐Ÿฉบ Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

Background: People s bodies need to break down food into the chemicals. These chemicals are used for energy and growth. Some people cannot process all chemicals very well. Too much of some chemicals can cause diseases. One of these diseases is called propionic acidemia (PA). People with PA can have problems with growth, learning heart, abdomen, and other organs. Researchers want to better understand how these problems happen. Objective: To learn more about propionic acidemia and the genes that might contribute to it. Eligibility: People at least 2 years old with PA who can travel to the clinic Some unaffected family members Design: Participants will have a 3 to 5-day hospital visit every year or every few years. Family members may have just 1 visit. During the family member visit, they may have: Medical history Physical exam Samples of blood and urine Questions about diet and a food diary Doctors and nurses may do additional studies: Samples of saliva, skin and stool Fluid from a gastronomy tube, if participants have one Dental and eye evaluations A kidney test - a small amount of dye will be injected and blood will be collected. Consultations with specialists A test of calories needed at rest. A clear plastic tent is placed over the participant to measure breathing. Stable isotope study. Participants will take a nonradioactive substance then blow into a bag. Photos taken of the face and body with underwear on Ultrasound of the abdomen Heart tests Hand x-ray Brain scan Participants may have other tests if study doctors recommend them. They will get the results of standard medical tests and genetic tests.

Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.

Location: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center โ€” Bethesda, Maryland

Age range: 1 Month to 100 Years

๐Ÿ“‹ "Do I Qualify?" โ€” 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Full eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria โ†—

๐Ÿ“ All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center โ€” Bethesda, Maryland
  • Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh โ€” Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

๐Ÿ“ž Contact the Study Coordinator

Phone: (301) 496-6213

Email: pastudy@mail.nih.gov

Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.

๐Ÿ’ฐ Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

  • 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
  • Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA ยง 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
  • Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

๐Ÿ’ก How to Participate

  1. Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
  2. Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
  3. Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
  4. Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.
๐Ÿ›๏ธ View Official NIH Record โ†—