Active clinical trials for "Arthritis, Rheumatoid"

The objective of the study is to identify and validate predictive markers of infliximab responsiveness in RA patients by 2 approaches: i) measuring biochemical, immunological and bone markers in sera because of their involvement in pathogenic mechanisms; ii) identifying gene-expression signatures in PBMCs by the transcriptomic analysis. Patients with active RA (ACR criteria) were given i.v. 3 mg/kg infliximab associated with metotrexate at weeks 0, 2, 6, and every 8th week. Infliximab efficacy was evaluated at week 14, using the EULAR response criteria. Just before the starting of infliximab treatment, the following parameters were measured in the sera: i) immunological tests: rheumatoid factor (IgA, IgG, IgM), anti-CCP, autoAb recognizing the 27 C-terminal fragment (ACAST-C27) and domain I (ACAST-DI) of calpastatin, anti-G6PI, anti a-enolase, anti-keratin and anti-perinuclear factor; ii) biochemical markers: CRP, MMP-1, MMP-3, TIMP-1, TIMP-2; markers of bone resorption: pyridinolin, deoxypyridinolin, osteoprotegerin, sRANKL, COMP. The predictive value of each parameter for a response/non-response to infliximab was analysed using Fischer's exact, Mann-Whitney and Chi2 tests. A blood sample was collected just before the onset of infliximab treatment and total RNAs were extracted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The [33P] radiolabeled mRNAs were hybridized (duplicate or triplicate) over a set of 10.000 human cDNA probes spotted at a high density on nylon membranes. Data were normalized and filtered to allow the comparison between RNA samples. Statistical analyses were performed with the R software and hierarchical clustering was performed with the Cluster and Tree View softwares.

This study tested the hypothesis that there would be a difference in the 12 month progression of structural hand impairment and hand function between a group of patients with early RA who received static resting splints and those that did not.

The special use-results surveillance is conducted in patients who have never been treated with Enbrel and in whom its long-term therapy may be instituted in the actual setting of use after marketing with the following objectives: 1. To examine the safety of long-term use of Enbrel including the occurrence of malignant tumors. 2. To confirm the efficacy of Enbrel in the long-term use.

The purpose of this study is to determine if Enbrel® or Kineret® will have a positive effect on subject functionality as measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQDI).

This is an observational prospective, multicenter study. The aim of the study is to evaluate how the Italian population of patients are treated with early aggressive RA, defined by the Italian Society of Rheumatology Guidelines, (GIARA Registry Study Group. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2003;21(Suppl. 31):S129-S132), in rheumatologic clinical practice and whether recent scientific evidence or new treatments available to rheumatologists can change their practice in a 2 year follow-up. The observation will primarily focus on the disease activity and clinical remission in patients who are receiving different treatment strategies. The primary goal is to define prevalence of clinical remission, according to the (Disease Activity Score) DAS 28 definition of clinical remission, in patients with early aggressive RA receiving different therapies at 1 year. Secondary objective are assessment of: Prevalence of Remission at the second year Disease activity at the first and second year. ACR 20%, 50%, 70% response at the first and second year. Quality of Life in patients with or without remission at the first and second year Safety Evaluations

To test the theory that accelerated inflammation-promoted atherosclerosis occurs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

This study is designed to evaluate blood Th1 and Th2 immunoregulatory cytokine production and hormonal levels associated with the third trimester of pregnancy and the postpartum state. Cytokine and hormone levels will be assessed in blood specimens obtained from healthy pregnant and postpartum females and compared to levels from premenopausal non-pregnant and non-postpartum females. Blood samples obtained at 30-36 weeks of gestation and 2-6 weeks postpartum will be the primary study points. Samples will also be obtained from pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant, non-postpartum, premenopausal female patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Additional data will be generated from samples from normal males, which will be compared with data from females. We expect to find that pregnancy is associated with enhanced Th2 cytokine expression and that the postpartum state is associated with enhanced Th1 cytokine expression. We expect to see differences in cytokine expression between males and females as well. We seek to gather data supporting the view that distinct hormonal environments regulate these contrasting immunological states.

Aim of this project is the building-up of an integrated model of multidisciplinary research tools to support large-scale and high-quality disease-based studies.

This multi-site, observational, prospective study aims to investigate current practice and associated outcomes for patients scheduled for elective unilateral total hip or knee arthroplasty in South Africa.This information will provide baseline values, against which effects of implementing a multidisciplinary enhanced care protocol for arthroplasty patients will be compared (the subsequent study).

This study evaluates the intestinal microbiome and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Patients will be analysed at two time points in reference to two predefined primary endpoints: Changes in intestinal microbiome Response to therapy The investigators want to evaluate if successful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis coincide with specific changes in the gut flora.