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Serum Auto-Antibodies in Neurological Diseases

NCT00704626 · Status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 120

Last updated 2026-05-18

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Under normal conditions our immune system protects us against infections and tumors. The immune system does this by recognizing that the infecting organism or the tumor is foreign to the body and attacking it. One way the immune system attacks a foreign target is by making proteins called antibodies that bind to the target. Sometimes, for reasons we poorly understand, the immune system wrongly identifies part of our own body as being foreign and attacks it. This can result in disease such as some forms of diabetes and thyroid disease, as well as some neurological diseases. In this study, one tablespoon of blood will be removed from each subject and tested to see if the immune system is making antibodies against components of the nerves and muscles. We also hope to learn if these antibodies contribute to the development or worsening of illnesses of the nervous system. Only one blood draw is required, but subjects may be asked to give up to 8 additional blood samples to see if the level of antibodies changes over time. Any additional blood draws would be performed at regularly scheduled clinic visits. There would be at least 3 months between blood draws over a period of up to 3 years, if requested by the physician.

Depending on your diagnosis, the physician may also request the collection of mouth (buccal) cells. This takes about one minute and is painless. The cells are collected by swishing a swab around your mouth. This cheek swab would be done with each blood draw.

Please note that this study is conducted ONLY at UC Davis and that all participants must be seen in our clinic located in Sacramento, CA. Results of the testing performed in this study are not given to the participants. This study is not intended to treat or diagnose any condition.

Conditions

Interventions

OTHER

Blood Draw

A 5cc sample of serum will be drawn from each subject. Only one blood draw is required, but up to 8 additional blood draws can be obtained.

OTHER

Cheek swab

A swab will be swished around the inside of the mouth to collect mouth (buccal) cells. This will be done with each blood draw.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of California, Davis

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • David Richman, MD · University of California, Davis

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2002-01-31
Primary Completion
2031-03-31
Completion
2031-03-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00704626 on ClinicalTrials.gov