Comorbidities in Axial Spondyloarthritis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Comorbidities in Axial Spondyloarthritis: an observational study
IRAS ID
150782
Contact name
Nicola Goodson
Contact email
Research summary
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a family of inflammatory diseases that cause arthritis of the spine. Chronic inflammation in these patients can cause other conditions in addition to the direct disease burden. The most common examples are diseases of bone metabolism and the cardiovascular system.
We would like to study how common cardiovascular conditions are in axSpA patients. This involves taking a few extra samples of blood when patients are having routine blood tests, and studying routing tests of the electrical activity of the heart (ECG).
Some of the blood samples will be used to test for things that affect bone metabolism. Some will be used to discover or test for factors that may help us predict how their axSpA will progress. Storage and processing of these blood samples will be performed in accordance with respect and under strict regulations and guidelines.
We would also like to see how treatment (specifically with the newer drugs called anti-TNF) affects cardiovascular diseases. A smaller number of patients on these drugs (around 30) will be asked to donate additional samples of blood again when they are getting their routine blood tests. They will also have two more ECG tests during their routine follow-up appointments.
We believe it is important to study these issues in order to improve the care we give to axSpA patients.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/1320
Date of REC Opinion
6 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion