START
Early diagnosis by recently arising arthritis
Project Manager
PhD fellow
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Start is a clinical study that follows patients with recent arthritis (arthritis). The goal is to find early signs, markers, on disease, such as in blood tests or samples from joint fluid and joint. In the future, this information can help to make the right diagnosis faster and provide more targeted treatment.
Early treatment can help reduce pain, prevent damage to the joints and maintain good function.
The study also aims to provide new knowledge about the mechanisms behind how arthritis develops.
WHO CAN JOIN?
The study will include adults with recently occurred swelling in one or more joints, which is referred to the rheumatology department at Diakonhjemmet Hospital.
If they have had the swelling for less than 12 weeks and the swelling is not directly due to damage, they can be included in the study.
Patients may also be included in the study with a known joint disease before, as long as the new swelling may indicate a new disease.
WHAT DOES THE STUDY INCLUDE?
The study is conducted at the same time as the patients are followed, as usual, at the rheumatological outpatient clinic, for so often and long you need it.
In addition, patients should respond to digital questionnaires at each visit.
Extra glasses with blood samples will be taken for special analyzes and to be frozen into biobank, for use in research.
Some patients will have the opportunity to take a tissue sample from the joint. This is done in the usual study room in local anesthesia.
At the beginning of the study, it is desirable that the patient takes a stool test at home, which is sent to the hospital in a separate container.
You participate in the study for 12 months. It is possible to extend the participation of some diagnoses.
The four planned medical consultations are, the day included in the study and after three, six and 12 months. In addition, there is pure blood sample control after a month, without medical consultation.