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
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - Age between 18 to 85 years.
  • - Have regular follow up in Dermatology/ Rheumatology clinics of Queen Mary Hospital.
  • - Diagnosed with PsO/PsA or RA.
  • - Chinese ethnicity.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Age below 18 years or above 85 years.
  • - Known decompensated cirrhosis.
  • - Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • - Unstable medical illness or active infection.
  • - Unable to provide written consent.
  • - Unable to adhere to the protocol.
  • - Unable to read and/or write Chinese language.
  • - On anticoagulant/ antiplatelet treatment.
  • - Abnormal platelet count <150.
- Known disease/condition with prolonged INR/bleeding tendency

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.

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
Arms & Interventions

Arms

: PSO/PSA

Patients diagnosed with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis

: RA

Patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis

Interventions

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

wongsm11@ha.org.hk

+852 22555154

For additional contact information, you can also visit the trial on clinicaltrials.gov.

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