Pain in Juvenile Arthritis

NCT07217782 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 202505170
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 140
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) (measured in kilopascal)

  Differences in PPT between patients and controls. 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

  1 year

• Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)

  Differences between patients and controls 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

  1 year

Study Arms (2)

JIA

OTHER

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.

Behavioral: Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal); Behavioral: Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)

Controls

OTHER

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.

Behavioral: Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal); Behavioral: Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)

Interventions

Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal) 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

Controls; JIA

Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds) 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; JIA

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 9 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 9-17
• Males and females
• English speakers
• Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions
• Juvenile arthritis group: diagnosed or suspected of juvenile arthritis
• Control group: healthy

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• (Control Group) Diagnosed with a chronic pain condition
• (Control Group) Diagnosed with psychiatric condition including ADHD, anxiety, depression, etc.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Washington University School of Medicine: lead

Study Sites (1)

Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, 63017, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Arthritis, Juvenile

Interventions

Time

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Connective Tissue Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Phenomena

Study Officials

• Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, PhD

  Washington University School of Medicine

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Alana McMichael, MA

CONTACT

314-273-6194; painlab@wustl.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 19, 2025
• First Posted: October 16, 2025
• Study Start: September 15, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2035
• Last Updated: October 16, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Locations

US (1)