CCP Next Generation study

Co-ordinated Programme to Prevent Arthritis: A study to Identify and Prevent Arthritis at a Pre-Clinical Stage.

Why are we doing this study?

It is recognised that patients with rheumatoid arthritis often have non-specific musculoskeletal complaints in the months or years prior to development of rheumatoid arthritis (unpublished observations). Family members of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are also at greater risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Given we know that earlier identification of patients enables earlier treatment and this leads to better long-term outcomes, we need a method of identifying patients at the pre-clinical stage of disease.

The Aim of the study

To determine the proportion of community patients with new-onset, non-specific musculoskeletal complaints who are anti-CCP Ab positive. It is recognised that patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) often have non-specific musculoskeletal complaints in the months or years prior to the development of RA (National Audit Office, 2009). Family members of individuals with inflammatory arthritis are also at greater risk of developing inflammatory arthritis.

In part 2 of the study, the primary objective is to determine the number of anti-CCP Ab positive patients who develop inflammatory arthritis by 48 weeks / after 48 weeks.

The study aim’s to identify individuals at high risk of developing inflammatory arthritis who may be appropriate for interventional research (including CTIMPs) aimed at preventing progression to inflammatory arthritis.