BIKE
Biopsies of synovitis in the knee joint from patients with RA and OA
Project manager
ABOUT THE PROJECT
A pilot study of ultrasound-guided biopsies (tissue samples) of synovitis (inflamed joint membrane) in the knee joint from patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis who come to the outpatient clinic at Diakonhjemmet Hospital due to swelling in the knee. The study is a method study to develop a good technical way to perform biopsies in the knee joint in addition to mapping the immunological cells in the biopsies and comparing biopsies from patients with inflammatory or degenerative knee disease.
Internationally, many centers are performing ultrasound-guided biopsies of synovitis from both large and small joints. In Norway, this is the first study to use the method.
The purpose of the study is for us to incorporate good methods for taking biopsies, as it is expected that this will be important in the future for mapping which drug treatments the individual patient should have.
WHO CAN JOIN?
Patients aged 18 years and older with rheumatoid arthritis (arthritis) or osteoarthritis.
Recruitment of participants for the study is ongoing.
WHAT DOES THE STUDY INVOLVE?
In local anesthesia, a biopsy needle is used that is only slightly thicker than a regular needle for joint puncture. Local anesthesia is injected into the joint cavity, and then biopsies/tissue samples are taken from the synovium (the inflamed joint membrane). If a cortisone injection is needed, the cortisone is injected through the same needle after the biopsies have been taken.