Validation of the RADIAL Algorithm for Diagnosis of Autosomal Recessive Cerebellar Ataxia

NCT ID: NCT04261127

Last Updated: 2025-08-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 400 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-09-20
• Study Completion Date: 2029-09-30

Brief Summary

RADIAL is an algorithm which has been developed following a review of the literature on 67 autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCA) and personal clinical experience. Frequency and specificity of each feature were defined for each autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia, and corresponding prediction scores were assigned. Clinical and paraclinical features of patients are entered into the algorithm, and a patient's total score for each ARCA is calculated, producing a ranking of possible diagnoses. Sensitivity and specificity of the algorithm were assessed by blinded analysis of a multinational cohort of 834 patients with molecularly confirmed autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia. The performance of the algorithm was assessed versus a blinded panel of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia experts. The correct diagnosis was ranked within the top 3 highest-scoring diagnoses at a sensitivity and specificity of >90% for 84% and 91% of the evaluated genes, respectively. Mean sensitivity and specificity of the top 3 highest-scoring diagnoses were 92% and 95%, respectively. Our aim is now to validate in a prospective cohort of ARCA, the performance of RADIAL to predict the correct genetic diagnosis.

Conditions

Autosomal Recessive Cerebellar Ataxia

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

experimental arm

The analysis of phenotypic data in RADIAL and the analysis of DNA (analysis of the Friedreich gene ± PMDA panel) will be performed for all patients in order to meet the main objective and the secondary objectives.

Specifically for the secondary objectives (N ° 3, 4 and 5), randomization via eCRF (electronic case report form) will be performed for the interpretation of genetic analyzes (PMDA panel) without inducing any change for the patients. This randomization, by block and by center, will allow the attribution of one of the following two groups:

• Control group: interpretation of genetic analyzes without the use of RADIAL;
• Experimental group: interpretation of genetic analyzes using RADIAL.

Genome analysis (secondary objective n ° 6) will be carried out for all the patients who remained without diagnosis at the end of the first part, and for whom the DNA of relatives is available.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Genetic diagnosis (PMDA panel)

Intervention Type: GENETIC

Blood samples for DNA study

Use of RADIAL algorithm

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

RADIAL card filling (contains clinical and biological data)

Interventions

Genetic diagnosis (PMDA panel)

Blood samples for DNA study

Intervention Type: GENETIC

Use of RADIAL algorithm

RADIAL card filling (contains clinical and biological data)

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• For patients:

1. Patient, male or female, over 5 years old (no upper age limit)

2. Patient with cerebellar ataxia who started before the age of 40

3. Patient with a family history compatible with autosomal recessive inheritance (sporadic case, consanguinity, several cases in siblings)

4. Patient in which an acquired cause of cerebellar ataxia has been excluded

5. Patient whose genetic diagnosis is unknown (NB: patients with a known negative result for the Friedreich's disease gene are eligible for inclusion))

6. For patients over 18 years old: patient speaking and reading French, able to give a signed and dated informed consent to participate in the study.

Patients who have reached the age of majority and whose DNA has been banked and who have signed a consent form authorizing the subsequent use of this DNA for research purposes, including genetic analysis of cerebellar ataxias or associated pathologies, and for whom the RADIAL information sheet can be completed in full, are eligible for inclusion.

7. For patient under 18 years old: Tutor or person with parental authority must speak French and be able to give a signed and dated informed consent for the minor patient.

Patients who are minors, whose DNA has been banked and for whom the parental authority has signed a consent form authorizing the subsequent use of this DNA for research purposes, including genetic analysis of cerebellar ataxias or associated pathologies, and for whom the RADIAL information sheet can be completed, are eligible.

8. Patient affiliated to the French national health insurance

• For relatives:

9. Male or female, over 18 years old (no upper age limit)

10. Biological father or mother of a patient included in RADIAL-VALID research protocol

11. (for prospective inclusion only) To be available for a visit to the participating center where the child is being followed

12. Speaking and reading French, able to give a signed and dated informed consent to participate in the study

13. Subject affiliated to the French national health insurance

Exclusion Criteria

• For patients:

14. Patient in whom targeted sequencing of a panel of PMDA genes and/or exome/genome sequencing have already been performed.

• For patients and related:

15. Subject of a legal protection measure

16. Subject in exclusion period (determined by previous or current study)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 5 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University Hospital, Strasbourg, France

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Tranchant Christine, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

CHRU Strasbourg

Locations

CHU de Besancon- Neurology

Besançon, , France

Site Status: RECRUITING

CHU de Dijon- Neurology

Dijon, , France

Site Status: RECRUITING

CHU Lille- Neurology

Lille, , France

Site Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING

CHU Marseille- Neurology

Marseille, , France

Site Status: RECRUITING

CHU Montpellier - Neurology

Montpellier, , France

Site Status: RECRUITING

CHU Nancy- Neurology

Nancy, , France

Site Status: RECRUITING

CHRU de Strasbourg - Neurology/Pediatrics

Strasbourg, , France

Site Status: RECRUITING

CHU Toulouse- Neurology

Toulouse, , France

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

France

Central Contacts

Tranchant Christine, MD

Role: CONTACT

christine.tranchant@chru-strasbourg.fr

+33 3 88 12 85 31

Facility Contacts

Bereau Matthieu, MD

Role: primary

mbereau@chu-besancon.fr

+33381668166

Moreau Thibault, MD

Role: primary

Thibault.moreau@chu-dijon.fr

+33380471248

Devos David, MD

Role: primary

David.DEVOS@CHRU-LILLE.FR

Azulay Jean-Philippe, MD

Role: primary

jean-philippe.azulay@ap-hm.fr

+33 491380000

Marelli Cecilia, MD

Role: primary

cecilia.marelli@upmc.fr

+33 467336733

Renaud Mathilde, MD

Role: primary

m.renaud@chru-nancy.fr

+33383154500

Tranchant Christine, MD

Role: primary

christine.tranchant@chru-strasbourg.fr

+33388128531

Anheim Mathieu, MD

Role: backup

mathieu.anheim@chru-strasbourg.fr

+33388128535

Ory-Magne Fabienne, MD

Role: primary

ory.f@chu-toulouse.fr

+33 561772233

Other Identifiers

7346

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id