RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Hantavirus Registry - HantaReg

The HantaReg study is building a registry of information on hantavirus infections, which are illnesses caught from animals. These infections can cause different problems, like kidney issues (Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome) or breathing difficulties (Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome). The study aims to gather past medical details from people who have had these conditions. At the moment, there isn't a specific treatment for hantavirus infections, so doctors mostly help manage symptoms. By collecting detailed information on how the disease progresses, its effects, and treatment outcomes, researchers hope to better understand why some people get very sick and others don’t. This will help improve care and, in the future, might lead to new ways to treat hantavirus infections.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Cologne

Enrolment target

200

Start

04 Mar 2020

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2030

Hantavirus Infections Hemorrhagic Fever With Renal Syndrome Nephropathia Epidemica Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome

What is this study about?

Hantavirus infections are illnesses that people can get from coming into contact with rodents, like mice or rats, or their droppings and urine. These infections can be quite serious and have been increasing in certain parts of Europe. Doctors call these 'zoonotic' infections because they spread from animals to humans.

Hantaviruses can cause two main types of illness: one that mostly affects the kidneys, called Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), and another that mostly affects the lungs and heart, called Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS). The symptoms and how severe the illness becomes can be different depending on the specific type of hantavirus someone gets. For example, some types might cause a milder illness with kidney problems, while others can lead to very severe kidney damage or life-threatening breathing and heart issues.

Currently, there isn't a specific medicine to cure hantavirus infections. Instead, doctors focus on supporting the patient's body and managing their symptoms. This might involve staying in intensive care, making sure fluids and salts in the body are balanced, and sometimes needing treatments like dialysis for kidney failure or oxygen and breathing support for lung problems. Because the illness can be so varied and sometimes very severe, this study is important. It aims to collect information on many patients to understand better how the disease progresses, what treatments are used, and how it affects people in the long term. This knowledge will help doctors improve care and look for new treatments in the future.

Key takeaways

Hantavirus is caught from rodents and can cause serious illness.
This study collects past medical records to learn more about hantavirus infections.
There's no specific cure, so understanding the disease is crucial for future treatments.
You won't have to do anything directly if your data is used.
Your personal details will be kept private and anonymous.

Who may be eligible?

This study is gathering information from people who have previously been diagnosed with a hantavirus infection. To be included, your medical records must show clear evidence, either through blood tests or other lab results, that you had hantavirus.

Additionally, your medical records must also show that you experienced symptoms consistent with a hantavirus infection. This means you must have had either the kidney-related illness (Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome or Nephropathia Epidemica) or the lung and heart-related illness (Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome).

If you had laboratory evidence of a hantavirus infection but did not show any clinical symptoms of these specific illnesses, your information would not be included in this particular registry.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Have I been diagnosed with a hantavirus infection in the past?
Do my medical records show lab proof (like blood tests) of hantavirus?
Did I experience definite symptoms of kidney problems (HFRS/Nephropathia Epidemica) due to hantavirus?
Or did I experience definite symptoms of lung and heart problems (HCPS) due to hantavirus?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

Taking part in this study, called HantaReg, doesn't involve any direct action from you in the present. Instead, it involves your past medical information being collected from your hospital or doctor's records. Researchers will look at details about your hantavirus infection, how it was treated, and how well you recovered.

There are no study visits, no medication to take, and no tests for you to undergo as part of HantaReg. This is a `retrospective` study, meaning 'looking back' at existing information. Your doctor will provide certain details about your case, all while keeping your personal identity private. There is no specific duration for your 'participation' as it's about sharing existing data.

Potential risks and benefits

Because this study only collects existing information from your medical records, there are no direct physical risks to you. Your personal details will be kept private, meaning your name and other identifying information won't be linked to the data given to researchers. The potential benefit is that by sharing your anonymous medical information, you are helping doctors and scientists better understand hantavirus infections. This knowledge could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat the disease in the future, ultimately helping others. You always have the right to decide if your anonymised information can be used, and you can withdraw this permission at any time.

Locations (1)

University Hospital of Cologne
Verified postcode
Cologne, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a type of virus that people can catch from rodents, like mice or rats. It can lead to different illnesses affecting the kidneys, lungs, or heart.

What is the HantaReg study for?

The HantaReg study is collecting information from past patient medical records to better understand how hantavirus infections affect people, evaluate treatments, and improve care in the future.

Will I have to do anything if I participate?

No, if your data is included, you won't need to do anything. The study collects information from your existing medical records, so there are no appointments or treatments for you.

Is there a cure for hantavirus?

Currently, there isn't a specific cure for hantavirus. Treatment focuses on supporting the body and managing symptoms while the body fights the infection.

Will my personal information be safe?

Yes, your privacy is very important. Any information shared with the study will have your name and other identifying details removed, so your medical information remains anonymous.

How to find out more

Felix Köhler, MD

felix.koehler@uk-koeln.de +4922147897222 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.