Study of Psychological and Motor Effects of Testosterone in Adolescents With XXY/Klinefelter Syndrome (TestoXXY/KS)

University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Klinefelter Syndrome; XXY Syndrome

Treatments: Drug: Testosterone gel 1%; Drug: Placebo gel

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01585831

1K23NS070337 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

11-0874

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine if testosterone replacement therapy leads to changes in psychological factors and/or motor skills in adolescent males with 47,XXY (also called Klinefelter syndrome). This study will also evaluate whether certain genetic factors of the X chromosome affect the psychological or motor features of XXY/Klinefelter syndrome.

Full description

Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) is the most common chromosomal abnormality in humans and occurs in approximately 1 in 650 males. Testosterone deficiency develops during adolescence in the majority of individuals with XXY. However, there are no previous studies that evaluate the psychological and motor effects of testosterone replacement therapy in adolescents with XXY.

The study researchers are interested in learning if testosterone therapy initiated in early puberty in XXY (KS) will lead to improvements in psychological and/or motor skills. They are also interested in learning if genetic variations of the androgen receptor gene or the parent-of-origin of the extra X chromosome influence the response to testosterone therapy.

Specific psychological factors to be studied include verbal and nonverbal cognitive skills, attention, executive function (organization, problem-solving skills, inhibition), anxiety, language, self-esteem, and other behavioral factors. Motor skills to be studied include gross and fine motor skills, motor coordination, and motor planning.

Participants in the study will be randomized to one of two treatment groups, receiving either testosterone gel or placebo, for 12 months. 60% of the study group will receive testosterone, and 40% will receive placebo.

The research participants, parents/caregivers, and the members of the study team will be blinded to the treatment group, and will not know whether they are receiving testosterone gel or placebo treatments.

The supervising endocrinologist for the study will not be blinded and will know which patients are in the testosterone and placebo groups. This will allow him to monitor results to determine if participants in the placebo group may develop a significant need for testosterone therapy during the study period. If this occurs, the patient will be switched to the testosterone group and will continue to be monitored in the study.

All participants will be evaluated at the beginning of the study and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Travel costs are included. Evaluations will include a combination of psychological and motor skills testing, questionnaires completed by the parent/caregiver and study participant, physical examinations, and blood draws for safety monitoring and genetic studies.

Participation in the trial will last one year and includes 5 clinic visits to the eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic at Children's Hospital Colorado in Denver.

Enrollment: 48 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 8 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Males with 47,XXY
• Participants must be in early puberty (Tanner stage II-III)
• Age 8 - 18 will be considered, but eligibility will be determined by review of laboratory results, bone age X-ray, and physical examination to determine stage of puberty
• All racial and ethnic groups

Exclusion criteria

• Other genetic variations of Klinefelter syndrome (48,XXXY, 48,XXYY, 49,XXXXY). The investigator has other studies for these groups and we encourage interested individuals with these disorders to contact us about other available studies.
• 47,XXY plus another genetic disorder
• Non-English speaking individuals (because the psychological tests are administered in English)
• Participants with a medical history of blood clotting problems, blindness, deafness, or cancer

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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48 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Testosterone gel 1%

Experimental group

Description:

Testosterone gel 1% applied to skin once per day for 1 year. Starting dose 1.25mL per day, titrated in 1.25mL increments for 1st 6 months of study after each study visit up to maximum of 5.0mL per day. Titration based on testosterone levels with target level in mid-range of normal for Tanner stage.

Treatment:

Drug: Testosterone gel 1%

Placebo gel

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo gel applied to skin once per day for 1 year. Starting dose 1.25mL per day. Dose randomly adjusted in 1.25mL increments for 1st 6 months of study after each study visit up to maximum of 5.0mL per day.

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo gel