Tofacitinib on Pain Processing in Rheumatoid Arthritis (ToPPRA)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Tofacitinib on Pain Processing in Rheumatoid Arthritis (ToPPRA)
IRAS ID
256930
Contact name
Ernest Choy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 26 days
Research summary
Pain and fatigue are common symptoms in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), which are extremely disabling. Despite many advances in treating RA, many patients continue to suffer from pain and fatigue even when the disease is well controlled. A recent national survey of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis reported inadequate pain relief and requested better management of their pain. Previous research suggested that how the brain perceived and controlled pain may be impaired in some patients leading to more severe pain. Patients with severe pain tend to suffer from severe fatigue. The aim of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the pain system and how pain may cause fatigue in the brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan) in 20 patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and 20 healthy volunteers. Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis will have assessments repeated after tofacitinib, an approved and standard treatment for RA.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
19/WA/0150
Date of REC Opinion
12 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion