RecruitingNot Applicable

Natural History of Inflammatory Muscle Diseases

United States500 participantsStarted 2023-06-01

Plain-language summary

Objective: To collect information and biospecimens (such as blood, muscle, and skin samples) that will be used to research causes and treatments of inflammatory muscle diseases. Eligibility: People aged 2 years and older with suspected or confirmed inflammatory muscle disease. Healthy volunteers aged 18 years and older are also needed. Design: Participants will have at least 1 clinic visit. Each visit will last 4 to 8 hours. Some may return for additional visits. All participants will undergo these procedures (unless they are unable to): * Physical exam, including blood and urine tests. * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the thigh. Participants will lie still on a table with padding around 1 thigh. The table will slide into a tube. The scan will last for approximately 40 minutes. Some procedures are optional: * Muscle biopsy: An area of skin will be numbed. A quarter-inch cut will be made. Several pieces of muscle tissue, about the size of grains of rice, will be removed. * Skin biopsy: An area of skin will be numbed. A piece of skin about a quarter inch in diameter will be removed. * Lymph node biopsy: A small sample of fluid or tissue from a lymph node will taken to check for infection. * Genetic testing. Some of the samples collected may be used for genetic testing.

Who can participate

Age range

2 Years – 120 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1\. Ability of subject, or Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent and/or assent document. 2a. Patients are adults and minors of age 2 or older, with possible inflammatory myopathy (suspected or confirmed) OR 2b. Healthy volunteers will be adults aged 18 or older. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1\. Unwilling to participate in research studies or to provide research samples or data.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Define the different types of inflammatory muscle diseases, their etiology, pathogenesis, prognostic factors, and response to different treatments.

Timeframe: End of each visit

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05738824

SponsorNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Sponsor typeNIH

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2032-02-25

Contact for this trial

Julie G Thompson, R.N.

(301) 480-3191 julie.thompson@nih.gov

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Inflammation In Skeletal Muscle trials