Dust, Cadmium and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the dust exposures of rheumatoid arthritis patients in Cornwall and correlation to cadmium content
IRAS ID
194833
Contact name
Daniel Murphy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust R&D
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 13 days
Research summary
This study seeks to answer the hypothesis that inhalation of dusts and fumes in the work place is associated with RA independent of smoking and that this association is confounded by the simultaneous exposure to inhaled cadmium within the dusts/fumes at the work place. Unveiling a novel mechanism of cadmium stimulating RA development in dust exposed patents would link many known independent risk factors for RA could have implications for early identification of exposed workers for interventions to minimise risk of future disease development.
1. To identify if occupational dust exposure is a risk factor for development of rheumatoid arthritis amongst Cornish males.
2. To investigate if occupational dust exposure correlates with a raised urinary cadmium level.
3. To identify if urinary cadmium level is an independent marker for disease activity (DAS 28, X-ray erosions) when controlling for smoking, social deprivation score, age, smoking and occupation.
4. Cadmium levels and anti-citrullinated calreticulin antibody positivity in RA (lab based).REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SW/0143
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion