View clinical trials related to Arthritis.
Filter by:This study will examine the genetic and immune factors involved in the cause and development of psoriatic arthritis-a disease of both the skin and joints. It will describe the medical features and natural course of the disease and determine participants' eligibility for experimental treatment protocols. Patients with known or suspected psoriatic arthritis 5 years of age and older and their relatives may enroll in this study. Patients will be evaluated with a medical history and physical examination, electrocardiogram, blood tests and X-rays. Additional procedures may include: 1. Leukapheresis-Collection of white blood cells for genetic analysis. Whole blood is collected through a needle placed in an arm vein. The blood circulates through a machine that separates it into its components. The plasma is removed and the cells are returned to the body through a second needle placed in the other arm. 2. Skin biopsy-Removal of a small skin sample for microscopic analysis. An area of skin is numbed with an anesthetic and one to three small circular portions (about 1/4 inch in diameter) are cut and removed. 3. Joint aspiration-Removal of a small sample of synovial fluid (lubricating joint fluid). An area of skin around the biopsy site is numbed with an anesthetic, and a needle is inserted into the joint to pull out a small fluid sample. 4. Synovial needle biopsy-Removal of a small sample of synovial tissue (tissue lining the joint). An area of skin around the biopsy site is numbed with an anesthetic and a large needle is inserted into the joint. A smaller needle attached to a syringe is then placed inside the larger needle and small pieces of synovial tissue are removed. 5. Genetic studies-Saliva and blood samples will be collected for gene testing. Saliva is collected by rinsing the mouth with a tablespoon of salt water and spitting into a test tube. Patients will be followed once or twice a year and may be evaluated for participation in an experimental treatment study. Participating relatives of patients will fill out a brief medical history questionnaire and provide a DNA sample (blood sample or tissue swab from the inside of the cheek).
This study will evaluate patients with inflammatory forms of arthritis within the first year of onset. The study will attempt to clarify factors that may predict disease course such as evolution into rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or other chronic inflammatory arthropathies. Synovial biopsies and synovial fluid will be obtained to search for microbial agents and other initiating and modulating factors that may be most readily distinguished early in the disease and to determine the stage of disease at which certain immunologic and hormonal changes become evident. The study will also search for genetic and other features that may be associated with specific forms of inflammatory arthropathies that might predict the subsequent clinical disease course or response to different agents used in treatment of RA, Reiter's syndrome and other types of chronic inflammatory arthropathies.
This protocol will examine blood, synovial fluid and synovial tissue from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory joint diseases to study genetic and immunologic factors involved in the cause, development and progression of these conditions. Synovial fluid is the lubricating fluid in joints. The synovial membrane is a delicate tissue lining the inner surface of joints, which, in arthritic conditions, thickens and becomes infiltrated with various types of cells. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and certain patients with other forms of arthritis may be eligible for this study. Those enrolled will be followed periodically for follow-up and disease evaluation. They may undergo the following procedures: 1. Synovial fluid aspiration, when medically indicated (for example, for joint swelling and inflammation). For this procedure, an area of skin around the joint is numbed with an anesthetic, and a needle is inserted into the joint to withdraw a small fluid sample. 2. Periodic blood sampling, not to exceed 450 milliliters (15 ounces) during any 6-week period, for genetic studies of rheumatoid arthritis. The samples are usually taken at the same times that synovial fluid is withdrawn. 3. Synovial tissues, collected by needle biopsy or during surgical procedures for arthroscopy (examination of the interior of the joint and repair of the joint) or total joint replacement. For the needle biopsy, the skin over the biopsy site is washed and anesthetized. A needle is inserted and fluid is aspirated. The biopsy needle is then inserted through the outer needle and a tissue sample is suctioned. Patients who qualify for other research studies may be invited to participate.
A small protein called dnaJ peptide may help people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by preventing their immune system cells from attacking their own tissues. The purpose of this study is to determine if small amounts of dnaJ peptide can "re-educate" immune cells in people with RA so that the cells stop attacking joint tissues.
This study looks at the effects of taking calcium pills on bone health in young people with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). In this 2-year study, children aged 6-18 who have JRA will take either a calcium supplement or a matching placebo (inactive or "dummy" pill) containing no calcium. During the study, researchers and patients will not know if a patient is taking calcium or placebo. We believe that patients who take calcium supplements will have at least a 10 percent greater increase in total body bone mineral density compared to patients who take the placebo. We will evaluate patients at Children's Hospital Medical Center every 6 months for 2 years. During this 2-year period, participants in the study will take one multivitamin containing 400 IU (international units) of vitamin D and either 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate (Tums tablets) by mouth or a matching placebo once a day. We will check patients 6 and 18 months after the 2-year treatment period to find out if people in the Tums-treated group maintain any increases in bone formation that occurred during the 2-year treatment period.
People with rheumatic disorders (arthritis) often have trouble keeping their jobs. This study will look at whether vocational rehabilitation (VR) will improve the ability of employed people with arthritis to keep their jobs. Job retention VR services target key factors that increase the risk of job loss. They aim to modify jobs to reduce barriers caused by functional limitations and disease symptoms, future career planning, and establish a partnership with a VR counselor for ongoing help. We will conduct the study among patients with rheumatic disorders recruited in eastern Massachusetts. We will give 120 study participants job retention services provided by VR counselors. We will give another 120 participants literature about employment- related resources. We will compare the outcomes of the two groups to evaluate the usefulness of job retention services in preventing job loss in people with rheumatic disorders.
This project will evaluate the effectiveness and general usefulness of two arthritis patient education programs. The first, the Arthritis Self-Management Program, is a 6-week, community-based program taught in small groups by peer leaders. The second, the Self-Managed Arthritis Relief Therapy (SMART) Program, is a computer-driven program delivered through the mail. Participants in this project are people with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis who are taking part in the larger long-term studies being conducted by ARAMIS (the Arthritis, Rheumatism and Aging Medical Information System).
The long-term objectives of this research project are to enhance program participation and improve the employment prospects of people with work disability due to arthritis and related musculoskeletal disorders (ARMD) who are actively seeking vocational (job-related) rehabilitation (VR) services. This study is designed to compare the employment situations of a group of people receiving a two-part intervention and a group that is not receiving the intervention. The intervention consists of training sessions to help prospective VR clients with ARMD successfully enter and complete the VR program, and training sessions for a randomly selected group of VR professionals to help them serve VR clients with ARMD more effectively.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by swelling and inflammation of the joints. In RA, the immune system attacks a person's own cells inside joints, eventually leading to joint damage and disability. This study will determine if oral bovine type II collagen (bovine CII) will lead to decreased joint inflammation in RA patients.
Research has shown that people with arthritis can improve their ability to cope with arthritis pain with the help of patient education programs, which teach people things they can do to help manage their disease. However, we do not know much about the effects of arthritis patient education programs on minorities, such as urban African Americans. We will gather participants for this project through a faith-based community network. The project is made up of four studies that will provide information about culturally relevant ways of reaching urban African Americans with arthritis and providing patient education that addresses arthritis care needs of the African American community. This project will also provide information on the effectiveness of an arthritis self-help course for urban African Americans. We hope to better understand the differences among cultural groups and how these differences should affect the design of culturally appropriate patient education.