View clinical trials related to Autoimmune Rheumatologic Disease.
Filter by:The study is a prospective, single centre, double-blinded randomized controlled trial whose goal is to compare the immune response of a population of immunosuppressed pediatric rheumatology patients on immunosuppressive medications to two different doses of Hepatitis A vaccine. The objectives are (a) to confirm that adolescents, like their adult counterparts, have a reduced immune response to hepatitis A vaccine, and (b) to compare the immunogenicity of two different dosing options of vaccine for this age group after one and two doses. A total of 60 adolescents aged 12 - 15 years with confirmed chronic rheumatologic conditions for which they are being treated with an immunosuppressive therapy will be recruited from the Rheumatology Clinic at Alberta Children's Hospital (ACH). Those found to have no immunity to hepatitis A will be enrolled. Informed, written consent will be obtained from the parent or guardian of subject, with assent obtained from the study subjects. Subjects will be randomly assigned to two doses of either Avaxim Pediatric® or Avaxim ® (adult) vaccine (Sanofi Pasteur Canada), six months apart, with hepatitis A titres done at baseline and one month after each dose. Both formulations are licensed for this age group.
Needle-related procedures are the most important source of pain and anxiety in pediatric patients. Consequently, needle-phobia and anxiety are common in children with auto-immune disease and immune deficiency and may be barriers to adherence in treatment. The use of a non-pharmacological and easy-to-use approach, like the Buzzy® device, could be an alternative or adjuvant for the management of procedural pain and anxiety of these children during needle-related procedures. This study aims to determine the feasibility, acceptability and satisfaction of the Buzzy® device for procedural pain and anxiety relief of immunology-rheumatology patients undergoing needle-related procedures. The investigators will compare the Buzzy® device with an anaesthetic cream (Maxilene®) during needle-related procedures. The investigators also plan to assess feasibility outcomes and satisfaction of the nurses and the children with the use of the Buzzy® device. This pilot study should refine or modify the research methodology and improve the intervention being piloted before it's efficacy will be verified within a larger scale-study. The investigators strongly believe that the use of the Buzzy® device in immunology rheumatology department could optimise procedural pain and anxiety management. Since most of the treatments administered for auto-immune diseases and immune deficiency diseases are through subcutaneous or intramuscular injections, pain and anxiety management using non-pharmacological and/or pharmacological interventions should be prioritized. Given this knowledge, the investigators feel that this pilot study has the potential to contribute to pain and anxiety management of children undergoing needle-related procedures.