Juvenile Arthritis | Current Studies | Rheumatology Research | Research Departments | Research

Biological Phenotyping of Juvenile Arthritis

What is the goal of the study? This study seeks to collect pre-treatment biosamples from patients with new-onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) to enable related translational research.

How do you participate? Patients with previously untreated JIA, other forms of arthritis that started before age 18, and healthy controls are enrolled. Prior to beginning treatment, individuals who consent to participate provide a single blood sample and synovial fluid sample that may be left over from a joint procedure. For more information, ask your Rheumatologist or contact the study coordinator.

Study Coordinator: Maria Taylor

Email: maria.taylor@childrens.harvard.edu

Phone: 617-919-2566

Preventing Extension of Oligoarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis JIA (Limit-JIA)

What is the goal of the study? This is the first study to test whether early treatment with a biologic can prevent severe disease extension. What we learn from this study can help doctors and families make better decisions about early treatment for children with limited JIA (4 joints or less affected at diagnosis).

How do you participate? This study is designed for children ages 2-16 who are newly diagnosed with limited arthritis. If eligible, your child will be placed into one of two groups - one group will receive the usual care your Rheumatologist would normally proceed with and the other group will receive a medication known as Abatacept. Both groups will have biosample (blood) collections at the baseline visit, 6 months from the initial visit, and 12 months from the initial visit. Throughout the study, we will also be monitoring overall outcomes from both groups to determine if a biologic can prevent severe disease extension. For more information you can visit the NIH clinical trials website https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03841357. For more information, ask your Rheumatologist or contact the study coordinator.

Study Coordinator: Johnathan Dallas

Email: johnathan.dallas@childrens.harvard.edu

Phone: 617-919-1462

TMJ-Only Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis versus Idiopathic Condylar Resorption: Are they the same?

What is the goal of the study? This study aims to compare patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) with effects limited to the Temporomandibular Joints (TMJ) to those with Idiopathic Condylar Resorption (ICR) to determine if these represent the same disease process.

How do you participate? Patients who have TMJ-only-JIA and ICR that have sought treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital give consent for researchers to review their medical records to collect information to test for associations with their diagnosis. For more information, ask your physician or contact the study coordinator.

Study Coordinator: Carly Calabrese

Email: carly.calabrese@childrens.harvard.edu

Phone: 617-919-1488

Identifying Predictors of Future TMJ Destruction at the Time of JIA Diagnosis

What is the goal of the study? This study aims to identify predictors associated with Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) involvement in patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), so that risk of TMJ involvement can be anticipated/assessed at JIA diagnosis.

How do you participate? Patients who have JIA and TMJ involvement that have been treated at Boston Children’s Hospital give consent for researchers to review their medical records to collect information that may be associated with TMJ involvement. For more information, ask your physician or contact the study coordinator.