Photoacoustic detection and monitoring of synovitis in finger joints with rheumatoid arthritis.

Completed

Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis
10003816

Registration Number: NL-OMON43735

Lead Sponsor: niversiteit Twente

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

* Men and women of 18 years and older that are fully competent to give informed consent
first phase:
* Patients with at least one proximal interphalangeal joint with clinically evident inflammation, significant joint effusion, hypertrophy (referred by their rheumatologist ) and a postive power Doppler score.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients with a cardiovascular disease
* Patients with bloody discharge, ulcers or wounds on the hands.
* Patients with a history of non-RA related injuries/ surgeries in the joints of interest.
* Patients lacking a good general health.
* Patients who suffer from tremors.
* Patients who are incompetent to give informed consent

Study & Design

Study Type: Observational non invasive

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>The main study parameter/endpoint is the feasibility of finding structural<br /><br>markers for RA with photoacoustic imaging. These structural markers can, for a<br /><br>part, be compared with conventional methods such as physical examination and<br /><br>ultrasound imaging.<br /><br>We expect to see the known physical differences (literature) that are<br /><br>encountered in RA such as edema, hypertrophy and a synovial membrane that is<br /><br>thickened and which has an increased vascularity.</p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>From the obtained parameters of the fase 1 research we will define new<br /><br>specifications for a new generation of imaging device and improve the new image<br /><br>processing algorithms.</p><br>