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RHYTHM (RHeumatoid Arthritis studY of THe Myocardium): How Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitors Affect the Myocardial Structure and Function.
For aim 1, the proposed studies will be performed in 150 patients with RA and 25 subjects without RA (healthy volunteers) who will function as controls. For aim 2, 25 of the patients enrolled in aim 1 (who are in need for further treatment due to increased RA activity despite their current treatment) will be recruited to continue in the study for an additional 24 (+/- 2) weeks (or 6 months). These patient will receive a TNF inhibitor in addition to their current treatment in an open label protocol for increased disease activity and in the context of standard of care. The investigators hypothesize that anti-TNF agents in RA patients without heart disease will not adversely affect the heart (will not cause a detrimental change in heart structure or its function).
Details
| Lead sponsor | Columbia University |
|---|---|
| Phase | Phase 4 |
| Status | COMPLETED |
| Enrolment | 149 |
| Start date | 2011-10-10 |
| Completion | 2019-09 |
Conditions
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Interventions
- TNF inhibitors
- DMARDs
Primary outcomes
- Number of Participants With Myocardial FDG Uptake — Baseline
This is designed to evaluate the baseline characteristics of the cross sectional RA cohort to understand the correlation of disease activity measured by the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) with myocardial inflammation measured by fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in positron emission tomography (PET) scan at the baseline visit. Myocardial FDG uptake is classified as "diffuse" or "focal."
Countries
United States