Protocol For The Quantitation Of Pain In The Diagnosis Of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

August 22, 2017 updated by: Lahey Clinic
The aim of this study is to evaluate a simple and rapid method in order to better define and treat Polymyalgia Rheumatica by measuring levels of muscle achiness and pain with a blood pressure cuff.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

This study is being conducted to evaluate a method for the quantifying of the proximal tenderness in patients with presumed diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica(PMR)using the measurements of pain thresholds(in both upper and lower arms) by the use of a standard blood pressure cuff.

At the present time the diagnosis of PMR is based upon four classic criteria, History of sudden onset symmetric painful proximal myopathy, Physical demonstrating proximal tenderness without loss of motion passively, Laboratory evidence of significant inflammation: ESR>50 and treatment with a rapidly beneficial response to low dose prednisone.

While the history, laboratory findings, and the response to prednisone are easily documented, the complaint of tenderness and the physical response to that tenderness is difficult to define and quantitate.

By better quantifying the tenderness and the physical response to that tenderness will, it is hoped, lead to more rapid diagnosis as well as improved approach to treatment.

Three groups of patients will be studied. Each patient, after written informed consent and procedure statement, will have pain threshold measurements taken and recorded by standard blood pressure cuff 4 times: one each on the lower and upper arms. The blood pressure cuff will be inflated to the level of maximum pain, then deflated, recording the maximum pain level. Absolute numbers will be used for each measurement. Blood pressure will not be recorded.

This study is an attempt to add definition to the diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica with a both simple and rapid office exam.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

142

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

    • Massachusetts
      • Arlington, Massachusetts, United States, 02474
        • Lahey Arlington

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

48 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Outpatients and Healthy volunteers from colleague referral and own practice

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients signing Informed Consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients less than 50 years old

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: Case-Control
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Subjects with Polymyalgia Rheumatica
50 subjects with Polymyalgia Rheumatica, both acute and chronic
Subjects w/o Polymyalgia Rheumatica
50 subjects with Rheumatic Disease other than polymyalgia Rheumatica
Subjects w/o Rheumatic Disease
50-Non Rheumatic disease subjects

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
To define whether the measurement of proximal arm tenderness can be used to diagnose and treat patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Time Frame: One to two visits each subject
One to two visits each subject

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Assessing the ease of measuring proximal arm tenderness
Time Frame: One to two visits each subject
One to two visits each subject

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Gerald S. Harris, M.D., Lahey Clinic, Inc. Arlingtion

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 (Actual)

January 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 18, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 18, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

February 19, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 23, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 22, 2017

Last Verified

August 1, 2017

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.

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