SustaINed drug-Free remissiON in rheumatoId Arthritis (SINFONIA)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SustaINed drug-Free remissiON in rheumatoId Arthritis (SINFONIA)
IRAS ID
334887
Contact name
Kenneth Baker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common disease affecting 1 in 100 adults in the UK. It is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the lining of joints causing pain, stiffness, fatigue and, if not controlled, joint damage and disability. Thanks to modern arthritis drugs, over a third of patients can achieve an excellent control of their arthritis (known as remission). However, arthritis drugs carry potential side-effects and require regular blood tests.
Recent research, including our own, has shown that it is possible for half of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in remission to stop their arthritis drugs without their symptoms coming back, known as “drug-free remission”. However, we don’t understand what features of the patient’s immune system to allow this to happen. We also don’t know how people with arthritis feel if they are able to stop their treatment.
In this study, we will invite back patients who have stopped arthritis drugs in our previous studies and ask them to donate a further small blood sample. We will then study the white blood cells and their protein markers in these samples in our laboratories, to better understand how the immune system changes when a person with rheumatoid arthritis achieves drug-free remission. Our trained researchers will ask pre-determined questions (developed with the help of our patient research partners) to better understand how they feel - for example, whether they consider themselves cured and whether stopping arthritis drugs affects their hopes and concerns for their future health.
By understanding what features of the immune system allow drug-free remission to happen, we may identify new ways to treat and prevent disease flare-ups. For the first time we will understand what drug-free remission feels like for a person living with arthritis, providing valuable information to support patients before and after drug withdrawal.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/0128
Date of REC Opinion
14 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion