MOVE-JIA
Project managers
National coordinating manager:
Specialist in rheumatology, PhD,
Pernille Bøyesen, postdoc
Postdoc:
Specialist in rheumatology, PhD
Siri Opsahl Hetlevik
ABOUT THE PROJECT
MOVE-JIA is a clinical study to investigate what is the best maintenance treatment for childhood arthritis, 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 young people. The disease is characterized by joint inflammation that can lead to joint damage and loss of function. Thanks to modern medicines and new treatment strategies, many children and young people with childhood arthritis can today achieve persistently inactive disease. Although we know a lot about how to treat active disease, we still don't know how best to treat pediatric arthritis patients who are in remission.
The MOVE-JIA study will be the first study to compare different ways of tapering off the medication, with continuing with stable treatment. Finding the right level of treatment where the risk of flare-ups is balanced with the burden of taking medication and their side effects is very important for children and young people with juvenile arthritis, parents and healthcare professionals.
The study is a multicentre study with all pediatric rheumatology departments in Norway, led by Oslo University Hospital.
WHO CAN JOIN?
Children and young people aged 2-18 from all over the country with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who have achieved persistent remission (inactive disease) during treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (anti-TNF) and methotrexate.
Recruitment of participants has not yet begun.
WHAT DOES THE STUDY INCLUDE?
WHAT DOES THE STUDY INCLUDE?
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 aim of the study is to find out how many patients in each group experience flare-ups during one year. Other important goals are to compare the two different ways of tapering off the medication, and to assess whether treatment with either only anti-TNF or only methotrexate is as effective as combination treatment. All participants in the study are closely followed up for a total of 3 years. Clinical examinations and ultrasound of joints are carried out. Parents and patients fill in questionnaires about self-perceived health. Blood samples for measuring drug concentration and immunogenetic tests are collected. If those taking part in the study suspect a flare-up of the disease, they are quickly offered an appointment to investigate this. If there is a flare-up of the disease, the child starts the medication again.