MOVE-JIA
Project managers
National coordinating leader:
Specialist in rheumatology, PhD,
Pernille Bøyesen, postdoc
Postdoc:
Specialist in Rheumatology, PhD
Siri Opsahl Hetlevik
ABOUT THE PROJECT
MOVE-JIA is a clinical trial to investigate the best maintenance treatment for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) that has achieved the treatment goal of sustained remission.
Juvenile arthritis is the most common chronic rheumatic disease in children and adolescents. The disease is characterized by joint inflammation that can lead to joint damage and loss of function. Thanks to modern medications and new treatment strategies, many children and adolescents with juvenile arthritis can now achieve persistent inactive disease. Although we know a lot about how to treat active disease, we still do not know how to best treat juvenile arthritis patients who are in remission.
The MOVE-JIA study will be the first to compare different ways of tapering medication with continuing stable treatment. Finding the right level of treatment where the risk of disease flare is balanced with the burden of taking medications and their side effects is very important for children and adolescents with juvenile arthritis, parents and healthcare professionals.
The study is a multicenter study with all pediatric rheumatology departments in Norway, led by Oslo University Hospital.
WHO CAN JOIN?
Children and adolescents 2-18 years of age from all over the country with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who have achieved sustained remission (inactive disease) during treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (anti-TNF) and methotrexate.
Recruitment of participants for the study is ongoing.
WHAT DOES THE STUDY INVOLVE?
Participants are randomly divided into three groups:
- Continued stable treatment with both anti-TNF and methotrexate
- Gradual discontinuation (tapering) of anti-TNF
- Gradual discontinuation of methotrexate
The main objective of the study is to find out how many patients in each group experience a disease flare over the course of one year. Other important objectives are to compare the two different ways of tapering off the medications, and to assess whether treatment with either anti-TNF alone or methotrexate alone is as effective as combination therapy. All participants in the study are closely followed up for a total of 3 years. Clinical examinations and ultrasound of the joints are performed. Parents and patients fill out a questionnaire about self-perceived health. Blood samples to measure drug concentration and immunogenetic tests are collected. If those involved in the study suspect a disease flare, they are quickly offered an appointment to investigate this. If there is a disease flare, the child starts taking the medications again.