An observational study in Rheumatic Diseases and Arthritis, sponsored by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 100 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-09.
Sponsored by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) · Observational
This study will explore the causes of rheumatic diseases and why many of them affect certain minority communities more severely. Rheumatic diseases may cause joint pain, stiffness or swelling. Some can involve bones, muscles, tendons or ligaments. Some cause abnormalities of the immune system-the body s defense against disease. Some rheumatic diseases are painful or deforming and some can be life threatening. Information obtained from this study will be used to learn about the disparities in rheumatic disease in the minority community and to design further, more targeted, research studies to address this issue.
Patients with known or suspected rheumatic disease 18 years of age or older may be eligible for this study. Candidates will undergo a medical history and physical examination to confirm the diagnosis of rheumatic disease and determine what is needed for evaluation and treatment.
Participants will receive standard medical care for rheumatic disease and arthritis. No experimental treatments, medications or procedures will be included in this study. Procedures may include routine blood tests for blood chemistries, cell counts, and antibodies commonly found in patients with rheumatic disease; a urine test for proteins and cells; and X-rays and other imaging tests to check for abnormalities in the lungs or other organs. All medical information will be kept confidential.
Patients who are found to be eligible for other current NIH research studies will be offered an opportunity to participate in these studies.
This protocol will permit the evaluation and treatment of subjects who are members of the minority community, for the purpose to facilitate understanding the pathogenesis and natural history of rheumatic diseases in this community. Patients will be evaluated with a history and physical examination and routine laboratory studies will be obtained as needed to assess diagnosis, disease activity, disease complications and to monitor for treatment-related responses and toxicities. Patients eligible for other research protocols will be offered an opportunity to participate in these studies by signed informed consent. Any medical care recommended or provided to the patient will be consistent with routine standards of practice and will be provided in consultation with the patient s referring physician. All patients referred to this study must have a health care provider provide a referral. The establishment of this protocol will provide a means to evaluate and treat patients from the minority community, and to generate hypotheses and protocols based on this clinical experience that will address questions of health disparities in the rheumatic diseases.
264 studies on the registry are indexed under Rheumatic Diseases; 60 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 7,500 is above the median of 225 across 90 observational studies indexed under Rheumatic Diseases.
Browse Rheumatic Diseases studies →National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is the lead sponsor of 100 studies on the registry; 12 are open to participants now.
Of its 7 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (71%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Adults, older than or equal to 18 years of age, referred from the community
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Known or suspected rheumatic disease
Age greater than or equal to 18 years
Willingness and capacity to provide .
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Patients will be excluded if any of the inclusion criteria cannot be met.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding at the time of enrollment.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
autoimmune, autoinflammatory, or degenerative conditions
To generate hypotheses relating to the basis and/or effects of health disparities in the community, which may serve as the basis for subsequent research efforts based in the community and/or at the NIH Clinical Center
The rheumatological health of the community
Time frame: 31 Years
Plan to share: Undecided — The protocol is silent on IPD.
Started Oct 2001 (actual).
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) →