Deciphering the Genetic Architecture of Autoimmune Diseases

Launched by NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH INSTITUTE (NHGRI) · Apr 28, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on understanding the genetic factors that may lead to autoimmune diseases in people native to Peru. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells, and these can be influenced by the genes we inherit. While much is known about these diseases in people from Europe and Asia, researchers want to learn more about how they affect individuals from North and South America, as the disease patterns may be different.

To participate in this study, you need to be 18 years or older and have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or scleroderma. Family members of those with these diseases and healthy volunteers from the same community are also welcome. Participants will attend two clinic visits two weeks apart, where they will undergo a physical exam, answer health-related questions, and provide blood and urine samples. The study will cover travel costs to the clinics, and participants will receive $30 for each visit along with a snack. This is a great opportunity to help researchers better understand autoimmune diseases and potentially improve treatment options in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• * INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • Any person who meets the criteria for inclusion in the study will be considered and must have the patient's signed informed consent for participation.
• Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis:
• Cases:
• • Patients diagnosed with SLE, Sjogren's disease, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative spondyloarthropathies, and systemic vasculitis, as defined by the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria.
• • Over 18 years old
• Controls:
• • Family members of identified cases, and unrelated individuals. The controls would be from the same community as the patients and families studied, and of the same age and gender. Screening for autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases will be performed.
• • Over 18 years old
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • -People diagnosed with a chronic viral disease: HIV, hepatitis C or HTLV-1.