Registry for African Americans With Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (CLEAR)

Consortium for the Longitudinal Evaluation of African Americans With Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (CLEAR)

The purpose of this study is to better understand the causes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly in African Americans.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Detailed Description

RA is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. It occurs in all races and ethnic groups and affects about two to three times as many women as men. Variations in certain genes that play a role in the immune system are associated with a tendency to develop RA. Some individuals without these genetic variations may develop this disease, while others who possess the variations never develop RA. Scientists believe that some environmental factors may play a part in triggering the disease process in people whose genetic makeup makes them susceptible to RA. This registry of African Americans with early RA will provide clinical and x-ray data and DNA to help scientists analyze genetic and nongenetic factors that might predict disease course and outcomes of RA in this population.

Participants in this registry will be enrolled in the study until they reach 5 years in their disease duration. For example, if a participant enters the study after 1 year of having RA, he or she will continue for 4 years. Participants will have three office visits (screening, 3 years' disease duration, and 5 years' disease duration) at which they will complete questionnaires and have blood samples taken, x-rays of their hands and feet, and DEXA scans. Between office visits, the study coordinator will call participants every 6 months to update any changes in medications or health problems.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

357

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

    • Alabama
      • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294
        • University of Alabama at Birmingham
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30303
        • Emory University
    • Missouri
      • St. Louis, Missouri, United States, 63130
        • Washington University at St. Louis
    • North Carolina
      • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
        • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    • South Carolina
      • Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
        • Medical University of South Carolina

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

African Americans

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  • African American
  • Rheumatoid arthritis for less than 2 years

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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Radiographic severity of rheumatoid arthritis in African Americans
Time Frame: 5 yr disease duration
Initially seen at 5 yr disease duration. Later, became a cross-sectional (1 time visit).
5 yr disease duration

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: S. Louis Bridges, Jr., MD, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham

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

January 1, 2001

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 16, 2003

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 16, 2003

First Posted (Estimate)

December 17, 2003

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 6, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 5, 2016

Last Verified

January 1, 2016

More Information

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.

Clinical Trials on Rheumatoid Arthritis

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