February 22, 2022
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) is hosting a clinical trial for children diagnosed with the rare Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) or Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS).
The study, which is currently open for enrollment, is being conducted at ACH in the Pediatric Clinical Research Unit.
PANS is a disorder characterized by the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) paired with at least two of the following behavioral symptoms:
PANDAS is a subset of PANS and can include OCD symptoms, disabling tics and neurologic abnormalities, with an association between symptom onset and Group A strep (GAS) infection.
The ProPANS intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG) clinical research study, sponsored by Octapharma, aims to find out if the investigational study drug, Panzyga (10% IVIG Soultion), can help children manage inflammation associated with PANS. Children ages 6-17 years who have moderate to severe PANS/PANDAS with prominent stable OCD symptoms may be eligible to participate in the trial. The drug has been FDA approved for other conditions, but not yet for the use of treating PANS symptoms in children.
“Finding a treatment for this rare disorder will help families face a future less influenced by PANS/PANDAS,” said Aravindhan Veerapandiyan, M.D., an assistant professor of Neurology in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine who practices as a child neurologist on the Arkansas Children’s campuses. He serves as the principal investigator for the trial. “We are excited that Arkansas Children’s Hospital can play a role in helping test this as one potential solution.”
Veerapandiyan co-directs the Childhood Post-infectious Autoimmune Encephalopathy Center of Excellence at Arkansas Children’s Hospital along with Veronica Raney, M.D., an assistant professor of Psychiatry in the UAMS College of Medicine.
The study will last approximately six months, with participants visiting the study clinic for assessments every three weeks. Help with study-related travel expenses, including reimbursements for lodging, transportation and meals may be provided.
About Arkansas Children’s
Arkansas Children's, Inc. is the only healthcare system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas' more than 700,000 children. The private, non-profit organization includes two pediatric hospitals, a pediatric research institute and USDA nutrition center, a philanthropic foundation, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, and many education and outreach programs — all focused on fulfilling a promise to define and deliver unprecedented child health. Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) is a 336-bed, Magnet-recognized facility in Little Rock operating the state’s only Level I pediatric trauma center; the state's only burn center; the state's only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; the state's only pediatric intensive care unit; the state’s only pediatric surgery program with Level 1 verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS); the state’s only magnetoencephalography (MEG) system for neurosurgical planning and cutting-edge research; and the state's only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Additionally, ACH is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in four pediatric subspecialties (2021—2022): Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Nephrology, Pulmonology and Urology. Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), the first and only pediatric hospital in the Northwest Arkansas region, is a level IV pediatric trauma center. ACNW operates a 24-bed inpatient unit; a surgical unit with five operating rooms; outpatient clinics offering over 20 subspecialties; diagnostic services; imaging capabilities; occupational therapy services; and Northwest Arkansas' only pediatric emergency department, equipped with 30 exam rooms. Generous philanthropic and volunteer engagement has sustained Arkansas Children's since it began as an orphanage in 1912, and today ensures the system can deliver on its promise of unprecedented child health. To learn more, visit www.archildrens.org.
About UAMS
UAMS is the state's only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute and Institute for Digital Health & Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS' clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. U.S. News & World Report recognized UAMS Medical Center as a Best Hospital for 2021-22; ranked its ear, nose and throat program among the top 50 nationwide for the third year; and named five areas as high performing — colon cancer surgery, diabetes, hip replacement, knee replacement and stroke. Forbes magazine ranked UAMS as seventh in the nation on its Best Employers for Diversity list. UAMS also ranked in the top 30% nationwide on Forbes’ Best Employers for Women list and was the only Arkansas employer included. UAMS has 3,047 students, 873 medical residents and fellows, and six dental residents. It is the state's largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children's, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.
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