An observational study in Arthritis, Rheumatoid and Muscular Weakness, sponsored by Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Completed. Open to female participants aged 25 Years to 75 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-06-01.
Sponsored by Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul · Observational
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation and progressive joint destruction. Rheumatoid cachexia is one of the structural manifestations of RA, and consists of a reduction in muscle mass, due to an increased muscle protein catabolism induced by inflammatory cytokines. This muscle mass loss generates an impairment in physical function and functional capacity in RA patients. The aim of study was to verify neuromuscular and functional responses in middle-aged women with RA compared to paired healthy women.
3,554 studies on the registry are indexed under Arthritis; 317 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 70 is below the median of 155 across 1,057 observational studies indexed under Arthritis.
Browse Arthritis studies →Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul is the lead sponsor of 118 studies on the registry; 20 are open to participants now.
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35 RA patients (class I and II according American Rheumatism Association) and 35 healthy women, age- and body size-matched to the RA patients, were recruited as controls (CG).
Exclusion Criteria:
Forty women (range 25-75 years), with a class I and II RA diagnosis according to the American Rheumatism Association's 1987 revised criteria, were recruited from a university hospital's rheumatology clinic. Exclusion criteria included the presence of any cardiovascular, neuromuscular and metabolic diseases or severe limitations in mobility. Five patients were excluded for not attending the inclusion criteria, leading to a final number of 35 RA patients.
Diagnostic Test: Neuromuscular and functional capacity tests
Thirty-five healthy women, age- and body size-matched to the RA patients, were recruited as controls (CG).
Diagnostic Test: Neuromuscular and functional capacity tests
The Timed Up and Go test; Maximal knee-extensor muscle strength (isometric and concentric tests) was measured with a Biodex System 3 dynamometer; A B-mode ultrasonography system with a linear-array probe (60 mm, 7.5 MHz) was used to determine VL and RF muscle thickness, pennation angle, fascicle length and tendon CSA. Measurements were obtained with the volunteer seated in the dynamometer, during isometric contraction at 90° of knee flexion. An 8-channel EMG system was synchronized with the dynamometer through a Windaq data acquisition system and used to evaluate the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris electrical activity during isometric knee-extensor tests.
Knee-Extensor Muscular Strength
Maximal knee-extensor muscle strength (isometric and concentric tests), in different angles and velocities were measured with a Biodex System 3 dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, USA). A 2-min interval was observed between contractions. We used the peak torque of each maximal test to analysis.
Time frame: Only one day.
Muscle architecture and tendon parameters
An ultrasonography system was used to determine VL and RF muscle thickness, pennation angle and fascicle length. Muscle architecture measurements were obtained with the volunteer seated in the dynamometer, during isometric contraction at 90° of knee flexion. Muscle thickness was considered the distance between deep and superficial aponeuroses. The best fascicle in each image was used for pennation angle and fascicle length analysis. Pennation angle was calculated as the angle between the muscle fascicle and the deep aponeurosis, whereas fascicle length was measured as the length of the fascicular path between the two aponeuroses. Furthermore, patellar tendon cross-section area was measured with probe perpendicular to tendon during isometric contractions.
Time frame: Only one day.
Functional Capacity
Timed Up and Go test
Time frame: Only one day.
Quadriceps muscle activation
Vastus Lateralis and Rectus Femoris muscle activation during strength tests
Time frame: Only one day.
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in May 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul