Biomarkers of Early RA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Discovery of biomarkers to guide the clinical management of new onset rheumatoid arthritis
IRAS ID
179683
Contact name
Tony Bjourson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
81732R-WP5, InvestNI
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is chronic inflammatory disease which affects approximately 1 % of the global population. RA is a complex disease and the cause is unknown but it is understood to have both genetic & environmental influences. RA is characterized by loss of tolerance within the immune system (autoimmunity) and associated inflammation which leads to joint damage.
90% of patients recently diagnosed with RA are placed on an intensive treatment regime of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). This family of drugs suppress the immune and inflammatory components of RA in responsive patients, thus reducing rates of irreversible joint damage and disability. 30-40% of RA patients do not respond to DMARDs mean while disease activity remains uncontrolled. The patterns of DMARD use, whether in combination with others or monotherapy depends greatly on accurately recording responses and monitoring liver and kidney toxicity. Currently DMARD response is assessed at 3 month intervals, by swollen and tender joint counts and levels of systemic inflammation. Assessment of DMARD response by biological markers could assist drug selection and dosage for a particular patient. This could reduce the amount of time spent on ineffective and potentially harmful treatments.
This project is focussed on the discovery of cell and protein based biomarkers present in RA patient blood which distinguish DMARD response sooner than current practice. Some evidence has suggested that response to therapy is influenced by specific genes, number and type of cells and proteins levels present in the RA patient. This three year study will recruit RA patients who are about to begin or have already started DMARD therapy from rheumatology clinics at Royal Victoria and Belfast City Hospitals. In collaboration with Ulster University the value of genetic, cellular and protein profiles of RA patients in predicting or monitoring response to DMARD therapy will be evaluated.REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
15/NI/0187
Date of REC Opinion
4 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion