Prospective Cohort Study on Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis

Launched by PEKING UNIVERSITY THIRD HOSPITAL · Aug 11, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a group of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) whose symptoms don’t improve even after taking advanced medications called biologic or targeted synthetic drugs. This condition is known as refractory RA, and it can cause ongoing joint pain, damage, and affect quality of life. The study aims to better understand why some patients don’t respond well to treatments by looking at different types of symptoms and immune system patterns. Researchers also want to find new ways to personalize treatment to help these patients feel better and improve their daily lives.

People eligible for this study are adults (over 18) who have had RA for some time, have been treated with standard RA drugs for at least a year, and meet specific criteria that define difficult-to-treat RA. Participants will be asked to join a long-term follow-up where their health, treatments, and quality of life will be closely monitored. This study is important because it focuses on a group of patients who often don’t have many treatment options and aims to find better ways to manage their disease.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Meet the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for RA or the 2010 ACR/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) classification criteria for RA.
• • 2. Age \>18 years.
• • 3. Treatment with conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) for at least 1 year.
• • 4. Fulfill the EULAR definition of difficult-to-treat RA (refractory RA).
• • 5. Provide written informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age \<18 years.
• • 2. Duration of DMARD therapy \<1 year.
• • 3. Patients unwilling to participate in the cohort study.