Neuromusuclar Adaptations in the Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease

NCT ID: NCT03543488

Last Updated: 2018-06-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 70 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2013-06-01
• Study Completion Date: 2014-03-03

Brief Summary

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation and progressive joint destruction. Rheumatoid cachexia is one of the structural manifestations of RA, and consists of a reduction in muscle mass, due to an increased muscle protein catabolism induced by inflammatory cytokines. This muscle mass loss generates an impairment in physical function and functional capacity in RA patients. The aim of study was to verify neuromuscular and functional responses in middle-aged women with RA compared to paired healthy women.

Conditions

Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Muscular Weakness

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Forty women (range 25-75 years), with a class I and II RA diagnosis according to the American Rheumatism Association's 1987 revised criteria, were recruited from a university hospital's rheumatology clinic. Exclusion criteria included the presence of any cardiovascular, neuromuscular and metabolic diseases or severe limitations in mobility. Five patients were excluded for not attending the inclusion criteria, leading to a final number of 35 RA patients.

Neuromuscular and functional capacity tests

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The Timed Up and Go test; Maximal knee-extensor muscle strength (isometric and concentric tests) was measured with a Biodex System 3 dynamometer; A B-mode ultrasonography system with a linear-array probe (60 mm, 7.5 MHz) was used to determine VL and RF muscle thickness, pennation angle, fascicle length and tendon CSA. Measurements were obtained with the volunteer seated in the dynamometer, during isometric contraction at 90° of knee flexion.

An 8-channel EMG system was synchronized with the dynamometer through a Windaq data acquisition system and used to evaluate the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris electrical activity during isometric knee-extensor tests.

Healthy Women

Thirty-five healthy women, age- and body size-matched to the RA patients, were recruited as controls (CG).

Neuromuscular and functional capacity tests

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The Timed Up and Go test; Maximal knee-extensor muscle strength (isometric and concentric tests) was measured with a Biodex System 3 dynamometer; A B-mode ultrasonography system with a linear-array probe (60 mm, 7.5 MHz) was used to determine VL and RF muscle thickness, pennation angle, fascicle length and tendon CSA. Measurements were obtained with the volunteer seated in the dynamometer, during isometric contraction at 90° of knee flexion.

An 8-channel EMG system was synchronized with the dynamometer through a Windaq data acquisition system and used to evaluate the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris electrical activity during isometric knee-extensor tests.

Interventions

Neuromuscular and functional capacity tests

The Timed Up and Go test; Maximal knee-extensor muscle strength (isometric and concentric tests) was measured with a Biodex System 3 dynamometer; A B-mode ultrasonography system with a linear-array probe (60 mm, 7.5 MHz) was used to determine VL and RF muscle thickness, pennation angle, fascicle length and tendon CSA. Measurements were obtained with the volunteer seated in the dynamometer, during isometric contraction at 90° of knee flexion.

An 8-channel EMG system was synchronized with the dynamometer through a Windaq data acquisition system and used to evaluate the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris electrical activity during isometric knee-extensor tests.

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• RA patients with a class I and II RA diagnosis according to the American Rheumatism Association's 1987 revised criteria, were recruited from a university hospital's rheumatology clinic.

Exclusion Criteria

• presence of any cardiovascular, neuromuscular and metabolic diseases or severe limitations in mobility

• Minimum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Marco Aurélio Vaz, PhD

Principal investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Other Identifiers

09634

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id