Active clinical trials for "Rheumatic Diseases"

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a disease-modifying, anti-rheumatic drug that regulates immune system activity and is typically prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as other immune conditions. Although generally well tolerated, study data have demonstrated that long-term use of HCQ may lead to irreversible and potentially vision-threatening retinal toxicity. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) issued guidelines in 2011, and again in 2016 that recommended dosing of HCQ be based on an individual's body weight, and also outlined how and when to screen for retinal toxicity. While clinicians have been aware of the potential side effects of HCQ for decades, studies have shown that many patients continue to receive higher than recommended doses. The goal of this study is to conduct a pragmatic trial to assess the utility of a new e-prescribing (eRX) interface for prescriptions of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). The investigators will measure the effectiveness of the system in reducing the number of individuals prescribed HCQ over current guidelines by randomizing clinicians to the new interface. Ideally, the eRX interface will result in a lower number of potential adverse events (i.e. retinal toxicity) associated with high-dose, long-term use of HCQ.

The first primary objective of this study is to determine the diagnostic performance (sensitivity and specificity) of primary MOH nurses who have completed certification in focused echocardiography acquisition and interpretation by expert trainers to accurately identify patients who are screen positive and screen negative for rheumatic heart disease. The second primary objective is to determine the diagnostic performance (sensitivity and specificity) of secondary MOH nurses who have completed certification in focused echocardiography acquisition and interpretation by MOH nurse trainers to accurately identify patients who are screen positive and screen negative for rheumatic heart disease.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) and its treatment carry profound public health and economic implications. Among Veterans, IHD represents one of the most common causes of death and disability, with over 500,000 affected individuals' annually. Rheumatic disease, though far less common than IHD can affect multiple organ systems and requires therapies costing in excess of $50,000 a year. Optimal treatment of Veterans with IHD and rheumatic disease requires a number of medications to maintain or improve health. Not taking medications as prescribed, however, is common and increases the risk of subsequent adverse events (cardiac death and myocardial infarction [MI]). To improve medication adherence rates and the cardiac health of Veterans with IHD, the investigators propose to test a medication adherence intervention. Known as VA SEPPRMACI-ARM (Secondary Event Prevention using Population Risk Management After PCI and for Anti-Rheumatic Medications), this intervention will consist of: proactive real-time adherence monitoring of patients and targeting of individuals if they have not refilled their medication a given number of days after it was due for refill. The intervention will employ a tailored, escalating-intensity approach which begins with some combination of personalized short messaging service (SMS) text messages and interactive voice response (IVR) telephone technology, depending on patient preference. Patients not completing SMS and then IVR by not refilling their medication (or declining SMS and not completing IVR) escalate to a trained research interventionalist. The interventionalist will contact the patient and address adherence barriers based on the dimensions outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) that are specific to each patient. The investigators will test the intervention on IHD patients who have recently undergone PCI-a cardiac procedure commonly used among IHD patients to improve the heart's blood flow and in patients starting anti-rheumatic medication. The investigators will test the intervention at four VA Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories (CCLs) and have 12 sites serving as usual care controls.

A double-blind randomized controlled trial on the safety and immunogenicity of the recombinant subunit herpes zoster vaccine, Shingrix, in patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing immunosuppressive or biologic/targeted DMARD therapies

In this study the investigators will examine patients who have undergone unilateral ACL reconstruction surgery to determine which structural and functional characteristics of the knee two and ten years post reconstruction surgery, aspects of the original injury and repair, and patient characteristics are risk factors for osteoarthritis after ACL reconstruction surgery.

The living will is a legal document derived from a communication and deliberation process, medical ethical aspect, currently regulated in Mexico by the General Health Law and the Health Law of Mexico City. Knowledge of living will in the population with chronic diseases, including rheumatic diseases, has been little addressed. Most patients do not know what the living will document is, so they do not carry it out and others, despite knowing it, have a passive attitude toward doing it.

To date, there is no available tool that allows, at individual level, determination of the probability to develop clinically relevant complications of prolonged glucocorticoid therapy. In patients with inflammatory rheumatic disorders requiring prolonged glucocorticoid therapy, such tool could be useful to adapt first-line treatment decisions (in daily practice and in future clinical trials). The main objective of the study is to identify routine clinical, biological and DXA baseline characteristics predictive of the occurrence of clinically relevant complications of glucocorticoid therapy at 1 year, in order to propose a predictive score.

Myocarditis is an important clinical problem which can can occur as a result of viral infections and autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Cardiac MRI is an important non-invasive means of making a diagnosis. However, current MRI techniques have significant limitations. Firstly, in order to create high-quality pictures, patients are required to hold their breath several times for multiple lengths of time. They often struggle with this due to underlying heart/lung problems. This can adversely affect the overall quality and image interpretation. Secondly, current techniques create 2D images that are potentially underestimating the presence and severity of any tissue inflammation/ injury. This may result in inappropriate treatment, particularly for patients with underlying autoimmune systemic disease who require immunosuppression. Diagnosis by MRI rests on detecting tissue injury through T2 and T1-weighted sequences which detect tissue inflammation and tissue injury. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of novel 3D free-breathing sequences for T2-weighted and fibrosis/ LGE imaging. Patients with suspected isolated myocarditis (viral/idiopathic) or myocarditis as part of an autoimmune systemic disease will be recruited to ensure that the novel techniques are tested in a broad spectrum of patients with inflammatory heart muscle disease.

In this bi-directional program of education, training and research activities based on sustainable development goals aim is to develop cardiac surgery service in Ethiopia. The aim is to evaluate the short and long-term outcome of cardiac surgery for rheumatic heart disease in a low-income country compared to individuals not offered cardiac surgery due to limited availability of the service. Second aim is to evaluate the quality of anticoagulant therapy in patients after cardiac surgery for rheumatic heart disease in a low-income country .

To facilitate clinical, basic science, and translational research projects involving the study of rheumatic diseases.