Pain Phenotyping of Rheumatic Diseases - An Observational Study

October 31, 2026 updated by: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Background:

Rheumatic diseases can affect the joints, ligaments, tendons, bones, muscles, and skin. They can also cause inflammation, damage body tissues, and change nerve signals in the brain. This can lead to ongoing pain that interferes with daily life. Researchers want to know more about how pain affects the lives of those with rheumatic diseases.

Objective:

To learn how the body and brain experience pain in people with and without rheumatic diseases.

Eligibility:

People aged 9 to 85 years with a diagnosed or suspected rheumatic disease and ongoing pain. They must be enrolled in protocols 01-AR-0227, 94-AR-0066, or 11-AR-0223. Healthy volunteers are also needed.

Design:

All participants will have an initial visit and may have up to 5 follow-up clinic visits spaced about 6 months apart. Each visit may last 3 to 4 hours. Patients with rheumatic diseases may have up to 2 more visits if they have a disease flare-up.

All participants will have these procedures at each visit:

Bedside quantitative sensory testing (B-QST): The participant's body will be touched with various probes: a cotton tip, a tuning fork, an ice-cold tuning fork, a heat probe, a device that applies pressure, and a probe with a sharp tip. These probes will not cause injury. Participants will describe how the touches feel and rate the intensity on a scale of 1 to 10.

Questionnaires: They will rate their overall health, quality of life, and any disease activity.

Research blood: Blood will be collected during the visits. Some blood will be used for how environmental factors affect our genes.

Physical exam and History review: They will provide information about their medical history and physical exam will be performed by a clinician.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Study Description:

Pain is one of the most common presenting complaints across all rheumatic diseases. Pain is often complex, and can be debilitating with symptoms resulting from a combination of underlying mechanisms, such as nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, and nociplastic pain. A better characterization of pain in rheumatic diseases is needed to improve pain management. With this study we aim to better phenotype pain in rheumatic diseases by using patient reported outcomes and bedside quantitative sensory testing.

Objectives:

Primary Objective:

To gain a deeper understanding of the distinct pain mechanisms in rheumatic diseases to ultimately improve pain management and treatment outcomes for individuals with these conditions. To compare these measures with age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Secondary Objectives:

  • Explore associations between pain phenotypes and disease activity/progression.
  • Investigate the impact of pain phenotypes on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and quality of life (QOL) in comparison with the age and sex matched healthy volunteers

Endpoints:

Primary Endpoint:

Pain phenotype based on measurements from PRO's and bedside quantitative sensory testing (QST). Establish age- and sex-adjusted norms derived from healthy volunteers.

Secondary Endpoints:

  • Explore associations between pain phenotypes and disease activity/progression. Investigate the impact of pain phenotypes on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and quality of life (QOL).
  • Establish an age- and sex-matched baseline for QOL. Patient demographics and standard measures of disease activity and damage are to be collected at the time of performing QST.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
225

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

9 years to 85 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study team will contact participants who are 9 years and older and are enrolled in NIH protocols 01-AR-0227, 94-AR-0066, and 11-AR-0223, because affected participants in this study must have an established or suspected rheumatologic disease and must also be co-enrolled in one of these protocols. Healthy volunteers may include family members of participants enrolled in these studies. Potential participants may also be identified through the Office of Patient Recruitment, direct outreach to local rheumatologists, internists, and university hospital clinics, or referrals from health care providers. However, these individuals must first be enrolled in one of the NIH protocols listed above before joining this study.

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA

Inclusion Criteria for Subjects Suspected or Diagnosed with Rheumatic Diseases

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
  2. Aged 9-85 years
  3. Diagnosed or suspected of having a rheumatic disease.
  4. Ability of the subject to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document or assent.
  5. Must be enrolled in one of the NIAMS protocols (01-AR-0227, 94-AR-0066, 11-AR-0223)
  6. To be able to answer PRO questionnaires in either English and/or Spanish languages.

Inclusion Criteria Healthy Volunteers

  1. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
  2. Aged 9-85 years
  3. No known history of a rheumatic disease or any other chronic medical illness.
  4. Ability of the subject to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document or assent.
  5. To be enrolled in either of the ongoing NIAMS protocols 01-AR-0227, 94-AR-0066, or 11-AR-0223.
  6. To be able to answer PRO questionnaires in either English and/or Spanish languages.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

  1. Treatment with investigational drug or other investigational intervention while enrolled in this study.
  2. Any physical exam finding that precludes bedside QST.
  3. Developmental delay or cognitive impairment that interfere with following or understanding the test instructions.
  4. Subjects using illicit or street drugs will be excluded. Subjects taking prescribed pain medications will not be excluded.
  5. Any chronic medical condition that may hinder participation in the study as determined by the study PI.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: COHORT
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Adult patients

Who are suspected or diagnosed with rheumatic diseases
Device: Bedside quantitative sensory testing

It involves measuring a participant's response to standardized stimuli such as light touch, vibration, heat, cold, pressure, and sharp sensation. A qualified health professional will use various tools to stimulate the participant's nerves and record their response.
Healthy adult volunteer

Who do not have or are not suspected to have rheumatic diseases
Device: Bedside quantitative sensory testing

It involves measuring a participant's response to standardized stimuli such as light touch, vibration, heat, cold, pressure, and sharp sensation. A qualified health professional will use various tools to stimulate the participant's nerves and record their response.
Minor healthy volunteer aged 9 and above

Who do not have or are not suspected to have rheumatic diseases
Device: Bedside quantitative sensory testing

It involves measuring a participant's response to standardized stimuli such as light touch, vibration, heat, cold, pressure, and sharp sensation. A qualified health professional will use various tools to stimulate the participant's nerves and record their response.
Minor patients aged 9 and above

Who are suspected or diagnosed with rheumatic diseases
Device: Bedside quantitative sensory testing

It involves measuring a participant's response to standardized stimuli such as light touch, vibration, heat, cold, pressure, and sharp sensation. A qualified health professional will use various tools to stimulate the participant's nerves and record their response.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain phenotype based on measurements from PRO's and bedside quantitative sensory testing (QST).
Time Frame: Enrollment/baseline visit6 month visit (optional) 12 month visit (optional)18 month visit (optional) 24 month visit (optional)Unscheduled visit (optional)

Ratings of stimulus intensity and pain will be captured using a 0 (no sensation/no pain) to 10 (most intense sensation/pain imaginable) numerical rating scale.
Enrollment/baseline visit6 month visit (optional) 12 month visit (optional)18 month visit (optional) 24 month visit (optional)Unscheduled visit (optional)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quality of life
Time Frame: Enrollment/baseline visit6 month visit (optional) 12 month visit (optional)18 month visit (optional) 24 month visit (optional)Unscheduled visit (optional)

Patient questionnaires will be used to characterize pain and associated symptoms in participants across 10 core pain domains (pain intensity, pain interference, physical functioning, sleep, pain catastrophizing, depression, anxiety, global satisfaction with treatment, substance use screener, and quality of life). Age-specific measures will be utilized according to best practices when necessary.
Enrollment/baseline visit6 month visit (optional) 12 month visit (optional)18 month visit (optional) 24 month visit (optional)Unscheduled visit (optional)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Sarfaraz A Hasni, M.D., National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 16, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 15, 2033

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 15, 2036

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 17, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 31, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 30, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 10002670
  • 002670-AR

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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