NIAMS study to determine how patients evaluate improvements in RA symptoms: August 20.

A new clinical study to determine how people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) evaluate improvements in disease symptoms will be conducted by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study will examine how much of an improvement in pain, stiffness, function, and other symptoms is needed before patients consider the change important.

"The Clinically Important Changes in Rheumatoid Arthritis" study will recruit 300 people 18 years of age or older who have been diagnosed with RA. Researchers are particularly interested in patients who currently are being treated with prednisone, methotrexate, leflunomide, infliximab, or etanercept.

Patients will be evaluated twice at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland: once at the start of the study and again over a 1- to 4-month period. At each visit, patients will undergo assessments, including a physical exam, a grip strength test, a walking test, and a blood test. They will complete a computer-based exercise, and answer written questionnaires.

For additional information on the RA clinical trial, contact the patient recruitment and public liaison office at 800/411-1222 or e-mail [e-mail].