Immune-Competent Cell Manifestations in Psoriatic Arthritis Achilles Tendons

Psoriatic Arthritis Clinical Trial

— IMPAACT  

Official title:

Stereological Quantification of Immune-Competent Cells in Biopsies From Painful Achilles Tendons of Psoriatic Arthritis Patients With Ultrasonic Verified Enthesitis: An Exploratory Prospective Cohort Study

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03248284
• Other study ID #: OUH-IMPAACT-02
• Status: Recruiting
• Start date: August 21, 2017
• Est. completion date: October 1, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: June 2021
• Source: Odense University Hospital
• Contact: Maja S. Kragsnaes, MD PhDfellow
• Phone: + 45 23238663
• Email: maja.kragsnaes[@]dadlnet.dk
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Tendon pathologies (enthesitis) are a characteristic component of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and are observed in 35% to 50% of PsA patients. The Achilles tendon is one of the most commonly affected sites. This condition often causes great morbidity and loss of quality of life, and response only suboptimal to current intervention strategies. One of the main obstacles for the development of effective treatment methods is that the disease mechanisms remain poorly understood. To our knowledge, no one has yet ascertained the presence and function of immune-competent cells and inflammatory markers in tendons tissue from PsA patients suffering from Achilles enthesitis.

Description:

Aim: The main objective of the IMPAACT study is to describe the histological findings of PsA Achilles enthesitis, and to a) Characterize and b) Quantify the immune-competent cell presence in tendon specimens obtained from the mid-portion and entheseal site of the Achilles tendon from PsA patients with enthesitis using immunohistochemistry and a stereological technique for the quantification. And secondly, to compare these observations with a) Those in healthy Achilles tendons, and b) Those in mono-symptomatic, non-PsA, chronic Achilles tendinopathy. Secondly, to examine whether one or more of the immune-competent cell types in the PsA tendons are associated with 3-months remission rate of Achilles tendon pain, or with baseline a) Ultrasonic findings of the Achilles tendon; b) PsA disease activity; c) Tendon protein analyses; d) Risk factors of cardiovascular disease; e) Blood biomarkers of systemic inflammation; and f) Fecal microbiota composition.

Methods: This study (IMPAACT) is a prospective, cohort study including 30 PsA patients (fulfilling the the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR criteria)) with pain at the Achilles tendon insertion. At baseline, all participants will be examined clinically regarding overall PsA disease activity (Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI skin score), the Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) Enthesitis score, swollen/tender joint count) and asked to fill out a questionnaire consisting of the validated Scandinavian (Danish) version of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment of Achilles tendons (VISA-A) in addition to a study-composed questionnaire comprising general questions regarding patient characteristics. An ultrasonic examination of the Achilles tendons will be performed before ultrasound guided Achilles tendon specimens will be obtained from the most painful Achilles tendon. Tendon samples will be evaluated immunohistochemically by quantifying the presence of macrophages (CD68-KP1+), T-lymphocytes (CD3+), B-lymphocytes (CD20+), natural killer cells (CD56+), neutrophils (granzyme-B+), mast cells and inflammatory markers using a stereological technique. Also, a protein analysis of the tendon tissue will be conducted. Venous blood will be analysed for levels of systemic inflammatory markers, as well as screened for cardiovascular risk factors including dyslipidaemia, and diabetes. After the baseline examination, all participants will be treated and monitored in accordance with the Danish national guideline recommendations for PsA patients. A 3-months follow-up examination will be performed to determine the remission status of the Achilles tendon pain. Data will be analysed using the STATA statistical package (version 12; StataCorp LP).

Conclusion: PsA is a painful and debilitating inflammatory disease. The current treatment remains suboptimal. We hope to provide new insight into the cellular mechanisms underlying PsA tendon and enthesis pathologies.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 30
• Est. completion date: October 1, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: July 1, 2022
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 70 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Fulfilling the CASPAR criteria

• Insertional Achilles tendon pain

• Ultrasonic findings of inflammatory disease at the painful Achilles tendon insertion (= enthesitis) defined as abnormally hypoechoic (loss of normal fibrillar architecture) and/or thickened tendon at its bony attachment, seen in two perpendicular planes that may exhibit a Doppler signal or bony changes, including enthesophytes, and erosions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other inflammatory rheumatic diseases than PsA

• Ultrasonic signs of complete rupture of the Achilles tendon

• Not wishing to participate or not suited for project evaluation

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Arthritis
• Arthritis, Psoriatic
• Enthesitis
• Psoriatic Arthritis

Intervention

Procedure:
• Tendon biopsy procedure
Two tendon biopsy specimens will be obtained from one Achilles tendon with enthesitis.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Denmark	Odense University Hospital	Odense
Denmark	Diagnostic Center	Silkeborg

Sponsors (5)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Odense University Hospital	Odense Patient Data Explorative Network, The Danish Rheumatism Association, The Psoriasis Association, Denmark, University of Southern Denmark

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Denmark, 

References & Publications (8)

Fredberg U, Stengaard-Pedersen K. Chronic tendinopathy tissue pathology, pain mechanisms, and etiology with a special focus on inflammation. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2008 Feb;18(1):3-15. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2007.00746.x. Review. — View Citation

Jacques P, Lambrecht S, Verheugen E, Pauwels E, Kollias G, Armaka M, Verhoye M, Van der Linden A, Achten R, Lories RJ, Elewaut D. Proof of concept: enthesitis and new bone formation in spondyloarthritis are driven by mechanical strain and stromal cells. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Feb;73(2):437-45. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203643. Epub 2013 Aug 6. — View Citation

Khan KM, Cook JL, Bonar F, Harcourt P, Astrom M. Histopathology of common tendinopathies. Update and implications for clinical management. Sports Med. 1999 Jun;27(6):393-408. Review. — View Citation

Kragsnaes MS, Fredberg U, Stribolt K, Kjaer SG, Bendix K, Ellingsen T. Stereological quantification of immune-competent cells in baseline biopsy specimens from achilles tendons: results from patients with chronic tendinopathy followed for more than 4 years. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Oct;42(10):2435-45. doi: 10.1177/0363546514542329. Epub 2014 Jul 31. — View Citation

McGonagle D, Marzo-Ortega H, O'Connor P, Gibbon W, Hawkey P, Henshaw K, Emery P. Histological assessment of the early enthesitis lesion in spondyloarthropathy. Ann Rheum Dis. 2002 Jun;61(6):534-7. — View Citation

McGonagle DG, Helliwell P, Veale D. Enthesitis in psoriatic disease. Dermatology. 2012;225(2):100-9. doi: 10.1159/000341536. Epub 2012 Oct 27. Review. — View Citation

Ryan C, Korman NJ, Gelfand JM, Lim HW, Elmets CA, Feldman SR, Gottlieb AB, Koo JY, Lebwohl M, Leonardi CL, Van Voorhees AS, Bhushan R, Menter A. Research gaps in psoriasis: opportunities for future studies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Jan;70(1):146-67. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.08.042. Epub 2013 Oct 11. Review. — View Citation

Terslev L, Naredo E, Iagnocco A, Balint PV, Wakefield RJ, Aegerter P, Aydin SZ, Bachta A, Hammer HB, Bruyn GA, Filippucci E, Gandjbakhch F, Mandl P, Pineda C, Schmidt WA, D'Agostino MA; Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Ultrasound Task Force. Defining enthesitis in spondyloarthritis by ultrasound: results of a Delphi process and of a reliability reading exercise. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2014 May;66(5):741-8. doi: 10.1002/acr.22191. Erratum in: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017 Feb;69(2):311. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Presence of Immune-competent cells and inflammatory markers	CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD34 (or CD31), CD56, S100 beta (CD57), CD68 (PGM1) or CD163, TNF-alfa, IL-6, IL-23 and other inflammatory markers.	Baseline
Secondary	Protein analyses	Protein analyses performed on Achilles tendon tissue	Baseline
Secondary	Adverse events	Number of adverse events during follow-up	From baseline to 3-month follow-up