Experimental Medicine Studies of the Brain in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis REALISE (REALISE)

Experimental Medicine Studies of Brain and Peripheral Immune Mechanisms for Sickness Behaviours in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

The rationale for this study is to use immune molecule-specific drug treatment to leverage a mechanistic understanding of the brain changes that drive sickness behaviour. This will combine current therapy with innovative neuroimaging technologies to obtain data in humans that has hitherto only been available in animal studies. Data supporting the role of inflammatory molecules in sickness behaviours and other cognitive disorders are increasingly compelling. A putative mechanism linking inflammatory proteins to sickness behaviour is Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF)-driven increases in extracellular glutamate leading to changes in neural function and brain network integrity and ultimately to sickness behaviour. Investigators hypothesise that TNF antagonism will effect changes in brain network connectivity and sickness behaviour score, that Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients will show changes in brain network connectivity and glutamate quantification in the brain and that RA patients will show changes in monocyte infiltration into the brain that are correlated with changes in sickness behaviours. This is a randomised, placebo-controlled waiting list study. All patients will be eligible for anti-TNF treatment i.e. moderate to severe active disease as defined by Physician. Participants will be randomised to immediate (fast tracked) treatment or to treatment after 6-8 weeks (the routine waiting time). The latter group will receive placebo during the treatment phase.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Adalimumab; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

The study will involve participants aged over 18 years with RA and are scheduled to start outpatient anti-TNF treatment (with Adalimumab) as part of standard clinical care, who meet the inclusion criteria and none of the specified exclusion criteria. All will give full informed consent. This is a single-blind, randomised placebo-controlled waiting list study and after screening and consent, eligible participants will be randomised (1:1) to receive either adalimumab or placebo.

The study comprises standard care screening for anti-TNF therapy (incorporated into the study to allow us to fast track screening), a total of 7 research visits and one remote visit via telephone. At Visit 1 (Day 0) and Visit 4 ((14 ± 2 days from Visit 3), participants will undergo 7T MRI and MRS Neuroimaging protocols that incorporate resting-state and task-based fMRI and glutamate MRS measures. At Visit 1A (1 - 7 days from Visit 1) and Visit 4A (1 - 7 days from Visit 4), participants will undergo an optional SPECT scanning protocol. This visit will involve a 160ml blood draw, from which monocytes will be isolated and radiolabelled before being reinjected prior to SPECT scanning.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 46
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Cambridge, United Kingdom
    • Addenbrooks Hopsital
  • Glasgow, United Kingdom
    • Neil Basu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 74 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults ≥ 18 years < 75 years.
• Physician diagnosed moderate to severe RA.
• No previous biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drug therapy
• Usual care physician has confirmed the patient is eligible for anti-TNF treatment for active RA in line with the license for adalimumab (originator or biosimilar) and local practice subject to satisfactory completion of standard pre-biologic safety screening. Standard pre-biologic safety screening includes but not limited to exclusion of latent TB infection according to local protocol, chest X-ray, negative HIV screen, negative Hepatitis screen antibody, negative Hepatitis B surface antigen [Hep B sAg] and negative Hepatitis B anti-core antibody [Hep B cAb]

Note: Participant consent to treatment with adalimumab will have been obtained by the usual care team as per standard practice at site and will be prior to any approach for this study.

• Participant agrees to either immediate or delayed commencement of adalimumab.
• Self-reported sickness behaviour (fatigue, depression, anxiety) with one component > 4 on NRS
• Right-handed (to reduce neuroimaging heterogeneity).
• Women of Child-Bearing Potential (WoCBP) must be willing to use of effective contraception for study duration. Further information is provided in appendix 1
• Willing to participate and give informed consent for this research study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to provide written informed consent.
• Severe physical impairment (e.g. blindness, deafness, paraplegia).
• Pregnant, planning pregnancy or breast feeding.
• Serious infection including sepsis, tuberculosis and opportunistic infections such as invasive fungal infections.
• Severe liver or renal disease.
• Clinically diagnosed major confounding neurological disease including Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease or similar neurodegenerative disease.
• Previous biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drug therapy with adalimumab, etanercept, qolimumab, infliximab, certolizumab, abatacept, tocilizumab, sarilumab, rituximab, tofacitinib or upadacitinib.
• Recent (within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 baseline) use of intra-muscular or intra-articular steroid injections.
• Contraindications to MRI (e.g. metal implants, claustrophobia).
• Contraindications to Adalimumab.
• Concurrent or previous use of any other medicinal product (excluding vaccinations) that may, in the Principal Investigator's opinion, influence underlying disease activity through effects on immune and/or inflammatory responses.

If consenting to SPECT component, the following exclusions apply:

• Haemoglobin less than 100g/L
• Contraindications to SPECT protocol (e.g. hypersensitivity to Technetium or Stannous Chloride, recent Nuclear Medicine Procedure)
• Unwilling not to donate body fluids such as blood, sperm etc. for at least 24 hours after SPECT imaging at visits 1A and 4A.
• Unwilling to avoid close contact with children or people who are pregnant for 24 hours following SPECT imaging

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: anti-TNF treatment; Adalimumab 40mg, will be administered as a subcutaneous injection once fortnightly on four occasions. No dose adjustments are permitted. The actual Adalimumab product selected at site will be dictated by what is used in standard care. The single-use, pre-filled syringe will be removed from storage at 2-8oC at least 30 minutes prior to administration to allow the contents to come to room temperature. The pre-filled syringe will be visually inspected for discolouration and particulates as per the product Summary of Product Characteristics.To facilitate maintenance of the blind, the pre-filled syringe (PFS) presentation will be used. The pen presentation will not be used.	Drug: Adalimumab; Adalimumab 40mg, will be administered as a subcutaneous injection once fortnightly on four occasions. The actual Adalimumab product selected at site will be dictated by what is used in standard care.; Other Names: Humira; Imraldi; Hyrimoz; Hulio; Amgevita
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Sodium chloride 0.9% for injection will be used as a placebo to adalimumab. An equal volume will be drawn up into a suitable sized syringe and labelled in accordance with standard practice at site. The dose will be administered as a subcutaneous injection once fortnightly on four occasions. No dose adjustments are permitted. Prior to administration, the prepared placebo syringe will be visually inspected for discolouration and particulate matter prior to administration.	Drug: Placebo; Sodium chloride 0.9% for injection will be used as a placebo. An equal volume will be drawn up into a suitable sized syringe and labelled in accordance with standard practice at site. The dose will be administered as a subcutaneous injection once fortnightly on four occasions.; Other Names: Sodium chloride 0.9% for injection

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in sickness score as measured using the sickness questionnaire	The sickness questionnaire is a 10-item instrument used to capture perceived sickness behaviour. It was developed to display sensitivity to an inflammatory challenge and have adequate psychometric properties.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Change in brain connectivity as measured by 7T MRI	Changes in dorsal attention network (DAN) - left inferior parietal lobule (LIPL) brain connectivity as measured by 7T MRI	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0) and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in fatigue from Baseline to Visit 4 via BRAF Severity	Fatigue, measured by BRAF severity	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in fatigue from Baseline to Visit 4 via PROMIS Fatigue	Fatigue, measured by PROMIS-Fatigue.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in Hyperalgesia from Baseline to Visit 4 via ACR-FM Scale	Hyperalgesia, measured by the ACR-FM Scale (American College of Rheumatology Fibromyalgia Scale).	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in pain from Baseline to Visit 4 via McGill Pain Questionnaire	Pain, measured by McGill Pain Questionnaire	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in pain from Baseline to Visit 4 via Michigan Body Map Regional Pain Intensity	Pain, measured by Michigan Body Map Regional Pain Intensity.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in pain from Baseline to Visit 4 via Finger Perception Task	Pain, measured by Finger Perception Task.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in pain from Baseline to Visit 4 via Neglect-like Symptoms Questionnaire.	Pain, measured by Neglect-like Symptoms Questionnaire.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in pain from Baseline to Visit 4 via Number Rating Scale - Pain	Pain, measured by Number Rating Scale - Pain.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in sleep disturbance from Baseline to Visit 4	Sleep disturbance, measured by PROMIS-Sleep related impairment.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in mood from Baseline to Visit 4 via HADS	Mood, measured by HADS (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale).	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in mood from Baseline to Visit 4 via PROMIS-Depression	Mood, measured by PROMIS-Depression	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in mood from Baseline to Visit 4 via PROMIS-Anxiety	Mood, measured by PROMIS-Anxiety.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in cognition from Baseline to Visit 4	Cognition, measured by Cognitive failures questionnaire.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in processing speed from Baseline to Visit 4	Processing Speed, measured by Symbol Digit Modalities Test.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in memory from Baseline to Visit 4	Memory, measured by Auditory Verbal Learning Test.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Changes in verbal fluency from Baseline to Visit 4	Memory, measured by Auditory Verbal Learning Test.	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Change in brain network connectivity at Baseline and Visit 4	Change in brain network connectivity as measured by 7T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0) and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Change in brain glutamate quantification at Baseline and Visit 4	Change in brain glutamate quantification as measured by 7T Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS).	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0) and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Measures of RA disease activity from Baseline to Visit 4 via DAS28	Indices of of disease activity for Rheumatoid Arthritis as measured by DAS28 (Disease Activity Score-28).	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Measures of RA disease activity from Baseline to Visit 4 via CDAI	Indices of of disease activity for Rheumatoid Arthritis as measured by CDAI (Clinical Disease Activity Index).	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).
Measures of RA disease activity from Baseline to Visit 4 via SDAI	Indices of of disease activity for Rheumatoid Arthritis as measured by SDAI (Simple Disease Activity Index).	Visit 1 (Baseline, Day 0), Visit 2 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 1 or Visit 1A), Visit 3 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 2), and Visit 4 (14 ± 2 days from Visit 3).

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in monocyte infiltration into the brain measured using SPECT	Monocyte infiltration is measured using SPECT (Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography) at visits 1A (pre-treatment) and 4A (final visit for those consenting to SPECT).	Visit 1A (1-7 days from Visit 1 Baseline, Day 0) and Visit 4A (1-7 days from Visit 4).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Collaborators: University of Glasgow
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jonathan Cavanagh, MD, PhD, University of Glasgow

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 4, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 29, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): November 29, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 20, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 21, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): October 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 13, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Tumour Necrosis Factor; Sickness Behaviour
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Joint Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Connective Tissue Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Arthritis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Adalimumab
• Other Study ID Numbers: GN18MH540

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