Pain in Juvenile Arthritis

NCT ID: NCT07217782

Last Updated: 2025-10-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 140 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-09-15
• Study Completion Date: 2035-09-30

Brief Summary

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatologic disease in children. The main symptoms of JIA, which are often the primary focus of treatment, include joint swelling, stiffness, and tenderness. Additional symptoms can include malaise, fatigue, and pain. However, the exact mechanisms contributing to pain are not yet fully understood. Participants will complete a 2.5-hours study session.

In the study session, psychophysical assessments of thermal and pressure stimuli will be performed. In addition, demographic, social, pubertal maturation, and behavioral and psychological factors will be collected via questionnaires. A saliva sample and/or blood draw may occur for the analysis of various immune factors and sex hormones. If a joint aspiration is done as part of their standard of care, we will request a sample of the synovial fluid for analyses of immune, hormonal and/or genetic factors. Participants will have the option to participate in additional optional follow-up study visits (every 3 months, up to 1 year) and to complete monthly surveys asking about their juvenile arthritis.

Conditions

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

JIA

Inclusion:

1. Age between 9-17

2. Males and females

3. English speakers

4. Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions

5. Diagnosed or suspected of juvenile arthritis

Exclusion Criteria

Participants will not be enrolled if any of the following criteria exist and based on the investigator discretion:

1. Pregnancy or breastfeeding

2. (Control Group) Diagnosed with a chronic pain condition

3. (Control Group) Diagnosed with psychiatric condition including ADHD, anxiety, depression, etc.

Group Type: OTHER

Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Pressure will be increased continually and participants will be instructed to press a button the first moment they feel pain from the pressure stimulus. The first threshold measurement will be used as a familiarization. The average threshold is calculated from three measurements. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity

Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Cold pain tolerance will be assessed by having participants immerse their hand or foot in a cold (4-12°C) water bath. Tolerance will be defined by the time of hand withdrawal. Pain ratings of cold pain intensity might be obtained periodically, and both pain intensity and pain unpleasantness will be recorded upon hand/foot withdrawal. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity

Controls

Inclusion:

1. Age between 9-17

2. Males and females

3. English speakers

4. Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions

5. Healthy

Exclusion Criteria

Participants will not be enrolled if any of the following criteria exist and based on the investigator discretion:

1. Pregnancy or breastfeeding

2. (Control Group) Diagnosed with a chronic pain condition

3. (Control Group) Diagnosed with psychiatric condition including ADHD, anxiety, depression, etc.

Group Type: OTHER

Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Pressure will be increased continually and participants will be instructed to press a button the first moment they feel pain from the pressure stimulus. The first threshold measurement will be used as a familiarization. The average threshold is calculated from three measurements. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity

Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Cold pain tolerance will be assessed by having participants immerse their hand or foot in a cold (4-12°C) water bath. Tolerance will be defined by the time of hand withdrawal. Pain ratings of cold pain intensity might be obtained periodically, and both pain intensity and pain unpleasantness will be recorded upon hand/foot withdrawal. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity

Interventions

Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal)

Pressure will be increased continually and participants will be instructed to press a button the first moment they feel pain from the pressure stimulus. The first threshold measurement will be used as a familiarization. The average threshold is calculated from three measurements. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)

Cold pain tolerance will be assessed by having participants immerse their hand or foot in a cold (4-12°C) water bath. Tolerance will be defined by the time of hand withdrawal. Pain ratings of cold pain intensity might be obtained periodically, and both pain intensity and pain unpleasantness will be recorded upon hand/foot withdrawal. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age between 9-17

2. Males and females

3. English speakers

4. Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions

5. Juvenile arthritis group: diagnosed or suspected of juvenile arthritis

6. Control group: healthy

Exclusion Criteria

1. Pregnancy or breastfeeding

2. (Control Group) Diagnosed with a chronic pain condition

3. (Control Group) Diagnosed with psychiatric condition including ADHD, anxiety, depression, etc.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 9 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 17 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Washington University School of Medicine

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Hadas Nahman-Averbuch

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Washington University School of Medicine

Locations

Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Alana McMichael, MA

Role: CONTACT

painlab@wustl.edu

314-273-6194

Facility Contacts

Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, PhD

Role: primary

painlab@wustl.edu

314-273-6194

Alana McMichael, MA

Role: backup

painlab@wustl.edu

314-273-6194

Other Identifiers

202505170

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id