This proposal will test the hypothesis that Orencia affects apoptosis and apoptosis related genes/biomarkers in vivo in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
Orencia may regulate apoptosis and apoptosis related genes in vivo in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient's cells. To date, no studies have been performed to evaluate the effect of Orencia on apoptosis in RA patients. Primary: To determine the effect of Abatacept in the apoptosis of T cells, B cells and antigen presenting cells (APC) in RA patients at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. Secondary: To evaluate the association between the changes in apoptosis to changes in disease activity measures (DAS28/ESR) over 6 months of treatment with subcutaneous injection of abatacept.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Group 1 subjects will be given subcutaneous abatacept, 125 mg once a week upto 6 months.
Arm 2 or Group 2 is for RA patients who are being treated wth non-biologic DMARDS who, with their doctor, have decided that they will not be receiving treatment with Abatacept in the next six months. These patients will not receive the study drug abatacept.
Univerity of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
To measure the change in apoptosis of T cells, B cells and antigen presenting (APC) cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis between the baseline, 3 months and at 6 months time points
To determine the effect of Abatacept in the apoptosis of T cells, B cells and antigen presenting cells (APC) in RA patients at baseline, 3 months and 6 months.
Time frame: Base line, 3 and 6 months
To measure the change in disease activity score (DAS28) between the baseline, 3 months and 6 months time points
To measure the changes in disease activity score joint count (DAS28/ESR)
Time frame: Baseline, 3 and 6 months
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