Rheumatology Patient Registry and Biorepository

Launched by YALE UNIVERSITY · May 20, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Rheumatology Patient Registry and Biorepository is a clinical trial aimed at improving our understanding of various rheumatic diseases, including conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis. The goal of this study is to support research that can lead to better treatments and care for patients with these autoimmune diseases. Researchers are currently recruiting participants who are either patients diagnosed with a rheumatic disease and receiving care at Yale Rheumatology clinics, or healthy volunteers who meet specific criteria.

To be eligible as a patient, you must be at least 18 years old and have a confirmed diagnosis of a rheumatic autoimmune disease. Healthy volunteers must also be 18 or older, have no chronic skin conditions, and not have any rheumatic diseases. Participants can expect to provide some information about their health and may be asked to donate a small skin biopsy for research purposes, but this is not required for everyone. Importantly, this study welcomes participants of all genders and ethnicities, and those who are pregnant will have specific guidelines to follow. Overall, this trial is an important step toward advancing our knowledge and treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria for Rheumatology Patients:
• • Patients ≥18 years old with a diagnosis of a rheumatic autoimmune disease including, but not limited to: adult onset Still's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, antiphospholipid syndrome, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, giant cell arteritis, mixed connective tissue disease, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, undifferentiated connective tissue disease and vasculitis.
• • Receiving clinical care at Yale Rheumatology clinics
• Exclusion Criteria for Rheumatology Patients:
• • Unable to provide informed consent
• • No patients will be excluded based on gender or ethnicity or pregnancy status.
• • Women who are currently pregnant will need to wait to donate a skin biopsy until after they deliver.
• • Patients allergic to lidocaine or epinephrine or have a history of impaired wound healing will not be able to donate a skin biopsy.
• Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Volunteers:
• • Age ≥ 18 years old
• • No chronic skin conditions
• • No diagnosis of a rheumatic autoimmune disease (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
• • Normal BMI
• Exclusion Criteria for Healthy Volunteers:
• • Unable to provide informed consent.
• • Currently pregnant or nursing unless the study goal is to study pregnant or nursing woman.
• • Allergies to lidocaine or epinephrine (skin biopsies).
• • A history of impaired wound healing (skin biopsies).