AzTrials
AzTrials

Disease ActivityNCT07374367

Isthmin-1 as a Biomarker of Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Correlation With Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Findings

An observational study of Disease Activity, run by Amera Imam Abdel - Ghany Ahmed.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The goal of this case control study is to detect serum isthmin-1 level in RA patient compered to healthy control . The main questions it aims to answer are: what is the serum isthmin-1 level in RA patient? what is the correlation between serum isthmin-1 and RA disease activity? what is the correlation between serum… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Disease Activity
How many people
66 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
1 May 2026to 1 Dec 2027
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Adult patients (≥18 years old) clinically diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria.

Who may be able to join

  • -Adult patients (≥18 years old) clinically diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria.

Who cannot join

  • Patients less than 18 years old.
  • Patients with other autoimmune diseases.
  • Participants with active infections, malignancies or diabetes.
  • Recent hand surgery, trauma, deformity and neurological conditions affecting hand function

Trial locations and contacts

No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Amera I Abd el-Ghany, ass. lecturer contact

01003139319

amera_i95@yahoo.com

Eman M Shawky, lecturer contact

01063489998

eman202@aun.edu.eg

About this study

Official title: Serum Isthmin-1 Level as a Biomarker of Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Correlation With Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Findings

The goal of this case control study is to detect serum isthmin-1 level in RA patient compered to healthy control . The main questions it aims to answer are:

what is the serum isthmin-1 level in RA patient? what is the correlation between serum isthmin-1 and RA disease activity? what is the correlation between serum isthmin-1 level and MSUS finding in RA patients?

Read the detailed description

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent synovitis, pannus formation, and bone erosion leading to joint damage and functional impairment . It manifests as a symmetrical polyarthritis predominantly affecting the small joints of the hands, the earliest and most severely affected site in RA. A total of 94% of the patients suffered from at least one hand or wrist symptom after 2-4 years of disease duration. The most frequently described symptoms were pain, stiffness of the hand, muscle weakness, paresthesia, and a limited fist, which significantly impair their daily hand function. Current monitoring tools, including ESR, CRP, and DAS-28, lack sensitivity for subclinical synovitis. These limitations underscore the need for novel biomarkers integrating systemic inflammatory activity with joint pathology and functional status.

Isthmin-1 (ISM1), a multifunctional adipokine that suppresses NF-κB pathway, thereby reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production and promoting tissue repair . This mechanism holds relevance in RA, where aberrant NF-κB activation drives synovitis and Th17-mediated immune responses . Its observed reduction in active RA signifies a loss of endogenous anti-inflammatory counter-regulation, establishing ISM1 as a promising biomarker for disease activity monitoring .

Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) provides superior sensitivity compared to physical examination for detecting synovitis (. MSUS findings correlate with structural damage and functional decline, making it a valuable tool for monitoring disease impact on hand joints . This study investigates correlations between serum ISM1 levels, MSUS findings, and hand function to identify biological links for novel RA therapies that preserve joint function and enhance quality of life.

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT07374367
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
rheumatoid arthritis patientNot described
age and sex matched healthy controlNot described

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Detection of serum isthmin-1 level in RA patients compared to healthy controls.

    The quantitative level of Human ISM1 will be measured with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kit.

    Measured: baseline

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. To correlate serum ISM1 levels with disease activity in RA

    through clinical and acute phase reactant

    Measured: baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted28 Jan 2026
  2. Study start1 May 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Sep 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
66 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07374367
Sponsor's protocol ID
Isthmin-1, Rheumatoid ,MSUS
Status last verified
Jan 2026
First submitted
16 Jan 2026
Last updated
28 Jan 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Disease Activity, run by Amera Imam Abdel - Ghany Ahmed.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Amera I Abd el-Ghany, ass. lecturer (01003139319, amera_i95@yahoo.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Detection of serum isthmin-1 level in RA patients compared to healthy controls. (time frame: baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Jan 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in