Genetics of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES (NIAMS) · Nov 3, 1999

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The purpose of this protocol is to identify genetic susceptibility loci for rheumatoid arthritis. The Genetics and Genomics Branch of the Intramural Research Program of NIAMS \[now the

Inflammatory Diseases Section of the Intramural Research Program of NHGRI\] has joined with

several extramural centers to form the North American Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium

(NARAC). The Consortium intends to identify and obtain clinical specimens on a total of 1000

sibling pairs with rheumatoid arthritis; up to 100 sibling pairs will be recruited at the Clinical

Center. Samples from parents and othe...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• * INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• SIBLING PAIR:
• • A diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in both sibs by the 1987 ACR criteria.
• • Definite bony erosions in at least one affected sibling.
• • Age of disease onset greater than 18 years and less than 60 years in at least one sibling.
• • Neither sibling has psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, or systemic lupus erythematosus.
• BLOOD RELATIVES OF AFFECTED SIBLING PAIRS:
• • Age greater than 18 years.
• • Where possible, all other affected siblings will be invited to participate.
• • Where possible, both parents of affected siblings will be invited to participate.
• • Other relatives, both affected and unaffected, may be invited to participate if, in the opinion of the investigators, samples from these individuals would contribute important genetic information. Two cases in which this might happen are: a) extended families in which there are several affected individuals, where conventional linkage analysis might be applied; b) affected sibling pairs for which parents are unavailable, where additional siblings will provide information on parental alleles not transmitted to the affected siblings.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR AFFECTED SIBLINGS:
• • Psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus.
• • Inability to provide infomed consent.
• • The sole criterion for exclusion of adult blood relatives of affected sibling pairs would be inability to provide informed consent.

Trial Officials