RADAR Study clinical trial registration- Trial of a New Blood Sample Method (Remote Arthritis Disease Activity MonitoR).
In an arthritis patient population living some distance from hospitals, collection of a series of blood samples to monitor disease activity in a timely fashion is difficult. The ability to monitor markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and gauge a patient's response to treatments via disease activity score (i.e. [...]
Paper on how dried blood spot samples can be used to monitor drug metabolite levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients and study associations with gene variants that modify drug metabolism.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that causes loss of joint function and significantly reduces quality of life. Plasma metabolite concentrations of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can influence treatment efficacy and toxicity. This study explored the relationship between DMARD-metabolising gene variants and plasma metabolite levels in RA patients. [...]
Paper on how dried blood spots samples can be used to monitor and detect disease flare ups in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by painful, stiff and swollen joints. RA features sporadic ‘flares’ or inflammatory episodes—mostly occurring outside clinics—where symptoms worsen and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) becomes elevated. Poor control of inflammation results in higher rates of irreversible joint damage, increased disability, and poorer quality of life. Flares need [...]