Houston TX Rheumatology Clinical Research

Are you seeking Houston TX rheumatology clinical research? Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is honored to be participating in three research studies associated with rheumatologic conditions. The mission for each study is to test a new treatment for their respective disease. Above all, these programs want to help patients who do not respond to current treatment options.

Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is happy to have Dr. Brionez at the helm of these research studies. She has more than ten years of experience in rheumatology, which makes her more than qualified. She takes patient care to the highest degree by working closely with them. Dr. Brionez listens to patients’ problems and feedback. From there, she does what she can to make their lives as comfortable as possible.

See if you qualify for our research studies on our website.

For those that do not know, research studies are used to test new drugs for a disease or condition. Research studies require participants with the disease in order to test the new treatment option. Participants often get free medication, free clinic check-ups, and travel stipends. In some cases, patients without stable transportation may have transportation provided for them.

Patients of these disease can help others suffering from the disease. Those who do not respond to normal treatment options would really benefit from new options. That said, the three clinical trials Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is participating in are SLE-BRAVE, The contRAst Program, and KEEPsAKE. You can find information on the clinical trials below or on their respective research studies page.

SLE-BRAVE

The SLE-BRAVE research study is testing a new drug for lupus alongside therapy. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects the organs, joints, and skin. Autoimmune diseases are when the immune system attacks healthy tissues. Normally, immune systems attack foreign pathogens in the body, such as infections of viruses. Lupus is a very complex disease for a few reasons.

Firstly, the cause of lupus is unknown. Secondly, lupus has varying degrees of severity. In the case of lupus, the entire immune system joins the fight against healthy tissue, which can cause severe problems. The lungs, heart, brain, and kidneys can be affected by this illness. More serious cases involve these organs and require corticosteroids to suppress the immune system.

Thirdly, diagnosing lupus is difficult. It has many symptoms related to other diseases. For example, symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and stomach pain are not strictly associated with lupus. So, diagnosing a lupus patient may be difficult. Finally, lupus has no cure. That said, treatment options aim to reduce symptoms and the immune system’s overactivity.

SLE-BRAVE seeks to test a new drug that will help those who do not respond to current treatment methods. Lupus can be fatal, and this new drug could help those suffering. The research study is 62 weeks long (14 months) and has a list of criteria participants must meet. Visit the lupus research study to find out more.

The contRAst Program

The contRAst Program is a research study for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common autoimmune arthritis. 1.3 million Americans are affected by this disease and are often referred to as disabling. However, advancements in treatment have made living with this disease easier. Even with advancements in treatment, there are still many who do not respond to treatment options. So, The contRAst Program wants to change that.

You can help patients by participating in these research studies.

RA typically appears in smaller joints of the body, such as the toes and fingers. Nevertheless, the condition is capable of affecting the eyes, skin, and organs. Common symptoms include joint pain, stiffness and swelling, fever, lack of energy, and dry eyes or mouth. Therapy and medication are often used for treatment plans. When it comes to therapy, patients improve their joint stiffness and pain. Medication will also help reduce pain and joint swelling.

The contRAst Program is made up of three other contRAst Programs. Each program will feature different amounts of people. You should visit The contRAst Program website in order to see if you are eligible for the study. Our website also has more information on the rheumatoid arthritis research study. Please contact Advanced Rheumatology of Houston if you have any questions or concerns about the study.

KEEPsAKE

KEEPsAKE is similar to The contRAst Program in that it is also split into different groups. The two KEEPsAKE studies will have 420 participants. The KEEPsAKE research study is investigating a new drug for psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is linked to psoriasis, a skin disease.

Only about 15 percent of psoriasis patients develop psoriatic arthritis. In some cases, arthritis appears before the skin disease. Patients with psoriasis suffer from red and white patches of scaly skin. Anyone can develop the disease, but those between the ages of 30 and 50 are the most commonly affected. Psoriatic arthritis commonly affects the hands, feet, knees, and elbows. The neck may also become stiff or sore.

There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, but there are treatment options to keep it under control. Medications seek to reduce inflammation and pain. Even some can preserve the bone around joints by slowing down the disease. It is important to note that 40 percent of psoriatic arthritis patients do not respond to treatments. That said, KEEPsAKE is a way to reduce that number.

Research studies help discover new treatment options.

The length of the study is about 64 weeks (14 months). Participants are split into two groups for 24 weeks before combining them into one single group. Once together, everyone in the study will receive the medication. While in groups, one will receive the medication while the other will receive a placebo. Find out if you qualify for the psoriatic arthritis research study, KEEPsAKE, by visiting its web page.