Pilot study of ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis (version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Pilot Study of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Assessment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
IRAS ID
145303
Contact name
John Isaacs
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common condition affecting approximately 1% of the UK population; it is an autoimmune disease where the body’s natural defences (the immune system) attack the body itself resulting, most notably, in joint damage and arthritis. To help prevent this damage, patients with rheumatoid arthritis need to take disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). As rheumatoid arthritis is a life-long condition, these DMARD treatments are prescribed as long-term medications taken for many years. Side-effects of DMARDs can include increased risk of infection, hepatitis (liver inflammation) and reduced blood cell counts and hence patients taking these treatments require regular blood test monitoring.
With successful DMARD treatment, many patients are able to achieve an excellent control of their disease and their arthritis can go in to remission. At present, there are no markers which can reliably predict which patients can reduce their DMARD treatment, and hence benefit from a lower risk of side effects and inconvenience, without an increase in their arthritis activity.
We invite patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis to participate in this study conducted by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in collaboration with Newcastle University. Patients will attend a single visit at the Freeman Hospital to complete an interview to assess the stability of their arthritis and their views and opinions of DMARD treatment. Patients will undergo a simple examination of their joints to look for any swelling or tenderness, followed by an ultrasound scan to look for joint inflammation. No change to current treatment or additional blood tests beyond those already taken as part of routine clinical care will be required.
The results of this study will be used to inform the design of a future trial to investigate potential markers of remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/EE/0459
Date of REC Opinion
18 Dec 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion