View clinical trials related to Spondylitis.
Filter by:This study will explore how genes may influence the severity of ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis that affects the spine. Patients have inflammation of the joints of the spine, which may cause the bones of the spine to fuse, resulting in difficulty performing daily activities. Patients who developed ankylosing spondylitis after age 16 may be eligible for this study. The onset of disease is dated to the first appearance of symptoms of inflammatory low back pain or restricted spinal motion. Patients with a spondyloarthropathy other than AS may not participate. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, blood test, and review of their medical records. They will also complete a questionnaire about their disease symptoms and medical history. Those enrolled in the study will return to the NIH Clinical Center at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, and 60 months after screening for examination of the joints, measurement of flexibility of the spine, and a blood test. They will also complete symptoms assessment and coping questionnaires. At the first study visit (screening visit), x-rays will be taken of the pelvis, lower back, and neck, if recent X-rays (within 1 year) are not available. These x-ray studies will be repeated on all patients every two years during the study (at 24 and 48 months after screening).
OBJECTIVES: I. Assess the safety and efficacy of olsalazine, a dimer of 5-aminosalicylic acid, in men with ankylosing spondylitis unresponsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy.
The Division of Rheumatology at University of California San Francisco is conducting a research study on the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with a new therapy currently used for people with other forms of arthritis. The drug, called Enbrel (or etanercept), is a protein that is given twice weekly by injection underneath the skin. It blocks the action of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a substance that may be involved in AS, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions. We will randomly assign patients to receive either the drug or a placebo (inactive treatment) for 4 months. The results we will monitor include morning stiffness, spinal mobility, activities of daily life, and safety of the drug.
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.