Liver Fibrosis and Gut Microbiota in Patients With Psoriasis Vulgaris and Rheumatoid Arthritis on Methotrexate
Study Purpose
While methotrexate (MTX) remains a treatment of choice for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), long-term MTX use has been shown to be associated with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in these patients. In addition, gut dysbiosis has been found to be associated with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis via the gut-liver axis, underscoring the potential role of gut microbiota and bacterial translocation in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases in these patients. In this study, we aim to assess the prevalence of advanced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis among these patients on MTX treatment compared to those without, using transient elastography. We also aim to identify the possible risk factor(s) for advanced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis among them. Further, we aim to characterize the difference in fecal microbiota patterns among these three groups of patients. Using a cross-sectional, prospective cohort design, this study will enroll approximately 600 eligible patients, including 300 patients with PsO/PsA and 300 patients with RA, to examine the following hypotheses: 1. Patients on higher cumulative dose of MTX will have higher prevalence of advanced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis compared to those on lower cumulative dose of MTX; 2. Patients with MTX use will have higher prevalence of advanced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis compared to those without MTX use; 3. The fecal microbiota composition will be different between patients with and without MTX treatment; and. 4. The fecal microbiota composition will be different between patients with and without advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis while on MTX treatment.
Recruitment Criteria
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms |
No |
Study Type
An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes. An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes. Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies. |
Observational |
Eligible Ages | 18 Years - 85 Years |
Gender | All |
Trial Details
Trial ID:
This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries. |
NCT04493762 |
Phase
Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans. Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data. Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs. Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use. |
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Lead Sponsor
The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data. |
The University of Hong Kong |
Principal Investigator
The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study. |
Sze-Man Wong, MSc, MRCP |
Principal Investigator Affiliation | Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong |
Agency Class
Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial. |
Other |
Overall Status | Not yet recruiting |
Countries | |
Conditions
The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. |
Psoriasis Vulgaris, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibrosis, Liver |
Contact Information
This trial has no sites locations listed at this time. If you are interested in learning more, you can contact the trial's primary contact:
Sze-Man Wong, MSc, MRCP
For additional contact information, you can also visit the trial on clinicaltrials.gov.