Dear Sir/Madam,
We are writing to you because we think that you may be able to help us in a study to understand the cause of abnormal scarring. We are interested to study an association of aberrant scar tissue formation with MHE, since preliminary reports suggest increased frequency of excessive scarring in MHE patients. We are researching the cause of abnormal scarring by looking for the genes that contribute to excessive scarring in families with MHE. For this study we contact all family members, whether they are affected or not.
We would like to investigate abnormal scarring in families with some members being affected with MHE. In order to investigate an association between MHE and excessive scarring, we would like to obtain information on the status of MHE diagnosis in all family members and investigate if abnormal scarring occurs only in family members with MHE or also in family members without MHE. Thus, we would like to assemble pedigrees that contain this information. Eventually we would like to obtain a photograph of the actual scar and a blood sample. All data and samples will be handled confidentially. The photograph will allow us to distinguish different forms of excessive scarring, such as a keloid (which grows beyond the boundary of the original wound) from a hypertrophic scar (which is a raised scar within the boundary of the original injury).
We are looking for an alteration in a gene that contains the information for a specific protein, which may cause the formation of abnormal scars. This altered gene is being passed on in some families through generations. Using DNA (isolated from the blood sample) from all family members participating in this study, there are now methods available with which such a gene and its alteration may be found quickly. If successful, and our laboratory has been successful in many other gene projects, we will publish the results in a scientific journal; your family and its members will of course remain completely anonymous.
You can help this study by donating some of your blood (about half ounce or 2-3 teaspoons). There may be no direct benefits to you or your family, but we hope that the results of this study will contribute to improve therapies for patients in the future.
For the initial part of this study information on scarring in all family members, with or without MHE, would be assembled. It is important to distinguish normal scar formation after surgery in MHE patients from abnormal excessive scar formation, which is characterized as a raised thick tender scar (often purple in color or pruritic).
If you are interested to participate in this study or have further questions about this study, please do not hesitate to contact me (Alexander_Marneros@hms.harvard.edu).
Thank you for your consideration.
Alexander G. Marneros
This study will be conducted by: Alexander G. Marneros, MD/Ph.D. and Bjorn R. Olsen, MD/PhD.
Harvard Medical School
Department of Cell Biology
240 Longwood Ave.
Boston, 02115, MA, USA
Tel.: 617-432-1730 Fax: 617-432-0638
Email: Alexander_Marneros@hms.harvard.edu
