Plain English Summary
Background and study aims.
Inflammatory bowel disease can sometimes be associated with a form of arthritis known as axial spondyloarthritis. This arthritis causes inflammation of the spine resulting in back pain, stiffness and reduced range of movement. AxSpA is often diagnosed late because it is a relatively uncommon cause of back pain and there are many other causes of back pain which may be considered by your doctor first. It is, however, important to make this diagnosis as early as possible in order to receive the most effective treatment. This study is designed to find out how many people with IBD [who have previously had an abnormal CT scan] also have axSpA. This knowledge will increase awareness of axSpA in IBD, and may suggest an alternative identification route for such patients. This aims to reduce the time to diagnosis and enable earlier access to available treatments.
Who can participate?
Adult patients with pre-existing IBD (CD or UC), with a previous CT scan highly suggestive of axSpA, as identified by the radiology team at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH).
What does the study involve?
Patients with a known diagnosis of IBD who had a previous CT scan for their bowel disease and in whom there are imaging features highly suggestive of axSpA. These patients will have been identified via a service evaluation review undertaken by the radiology department. Patients will be invited to participate in the study via a postal questionnaire. If patients are deemed eligible, they will be invited to attend an assessment in the Rheumatology Department consisting of a medical interview, physical examination, blood tests, and an MRI scan of the spine and pelvis.
What are the possible risks and benefits of participating?
Participants will have an opportunity to find an explanation for their back pain. If they are found to have inflammation in their spine or other potentially treatable causes of back pain, we will recommend that their GP refer them to the main rheumatology clinic and they may be given some different treatment to help manage their symptoms.
What are the possible risks of participating?
The new diagnosis of axSpA may have implications for the participants' day-to-day life (as being diagnosed with any chronic disease would), however as this will offer an opportunity to start treatment, this is likely to outweigh any distress caused.
There are some risks and discomfort associated with the study procedures outlined below:
•Blood collection: For most people, needle punctures for blood withdrawal do not cause any problems. However, sometimes they may cause bleeding, bruising, discomfort, infections, and/or pain where the skin is punctured. They may also feel dizzy.
•MRI: The risks associated with having an MRI of the spine and pelvis are very minimal. Participants who are claustrophobic (have a fear of closed spaces) or have had any metal placed in your body (for example, during surgery) may not be able to have the investigation.
As with any test, there is always a possibility that the results of the above investigations may identify another cause for one’s symptoms that may be unrelated to the study. This information will be forwarded to the participant and their general practitioner who will decide on their further care.
Where is the study run from?
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) in the United Kingdom
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2019 to June 2020
Who is funding the study?
Pharmaceutical company AbbVie (the company only provides the funding to support the research, but has no influence on the design, conduct, management of the study. The company will not have access to any personal identifiable data)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Edwin Lim
edwin.lim@nnuh.nhs.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Public
Primary contact
Dr Chong Seng Edwin Lim
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2355-7410
Contact details
Rheumatology Department
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital
Colney Lane
Norwich
NR4 7UY
United Kingdom
01603 647835
edwin.lim@nnuh.nhs.uk
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Dr Chong Seng Edwin Lim
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2355-7410
Contact details
Rheumatology Department
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital
Colney Lane
Norwich
NR47UY
United Kingdom
01603 647835
edwin.lim@nnuh.nhs.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
252117 (133-10-18)
Study information
Scientific title
What proportion of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease have Axial Spondyloarthritis – An imaging referral strategy utilising Computed Tomography defined Sacroiliitis [Norfolk - Axial SPa Ibd REferral Computed Tomography Strategy (N-ASPIRE CT Strategy)]
Acronym
N-ASPIRE CT Strategy
Study hypothesis
How common is the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is in patients with known inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis who have previously had an abnormal Computed Tomography (CT) scan?
Ethics approval
Approved 20/05/2019, East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee (The Old Chapel, Royal Standard Place, Nottingham, NG1 6FS, UK; Email: nrescommittee.eastofengland-essex@nhs.net), ref: 19/EE/0125
Assessed 15/02/2019, London Bridge Research Ethics Committee REC (Henriette Raphael House, Boardroom, Ground Floor, Henriette Raphael House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, SE1 1UL, Tel: +44 (0)207 104 8222, Email: NRESCommittee.London-LondonBridge@nhs.net), ref: 19/LO/0424. This review was subsequently transferred to East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee.
Study design
Observational cross-sectional cohort study
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cross sectional study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Screening
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet.
Condition
Axial Spondyloarthritis / Ankylosing Spondylitis, Spondyloarthritis, Rheumatology
Intervention
This is being undertaken as part of good clinical practice. Patients with a diagnosis of IBD who underwent a CT scan, and in whom there are suspicious features of axSpA will be invited to participate in the study via a postal questionnaire. If patients are considered eligible, participants will then be invited to attend an assessment in the Rheumatology Department. This will comprise an expert medical interview, physical examination, blood tests and an MRI scan of the spine and pelvis.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Proportion of Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients with incidental Computed Tomographic defined Sacroiliitis (CTSI) who have a rheumatologist-verified diagnosis of Axial Spondyloarthritis
Secondary outcome measures
1. Proportion of patients who fulfil the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) classification criteria for Axial Spondyloarthritis
2. Proportion of symptomatic vs asymptomatic incidental CTSI
Overall trial start date
01/01/2017
Overall trial end date
14/06/2020
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria for Phase 1 (postal survey):
1. CT scan performed for non-musculoskeletal indications
2. Age between 18 and 55 years old inclusive at the time of CT scan
3. Verified IBD diagnosis (by gastroenterologist via gastroenterology clinical letter +/- supportive histology/radiology results using electronic medical, lab, radiology records)
4. Presence of incidental Computer Tomographic defined Sacroiliitis (CTSI) which is defined as the presence of sacroiliac joint ankylosis or total erosion score (TES) of ≥3 or > 0.5 cm iliac sclerosis or > 0.3 cm sacral sclerosis
Inclusion criteria for Phase 2 (clinical assessment):
1. Chronic back pain (> 3 months)
2. Onset of back pain before 45 years old
3. Including known/previous diagnosis of AS or axSpA (if unable to verify diagnosis retrospectively)
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
27
Total final enrolment
27
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Unable to tolerate MRI scanning (e.g. current history of claustrophobia) or contra-indication to MRI scanning (including but not limited to e.g. pacemaker, pregnancy, metallic or conducting foreign body, etc.)
2. Age < 18 or > 55 years
3. Lacking in capacity and/or unable to give informed consent
4. Unable to understand English to sufficient degree to be able to complete a questionnaire
5. Illiteracy
6. Prisoners
7. Unwilling to take part in the study
Recruitment start date
01/08/2019
Recruitment end date
31/10/2019
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
NORFOLK AND NORWICH UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital
Colney Lane
Norwich
NR4 7UY
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) - Lead Sponsor
Sponsor details
Sponsor Contact - Julie Dawson
(NNUH R&D Lead Contact
Research Service Manager)
R&D Office
Level 3 East Block
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Colney Lane
Norwich
NR4 7UY
United Kingdom
01603 647882
julie.dawson@nnuh.nhs.uk
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
Organisation
University of East Anglia (UEA) – Co-sponsor
Sponsor details
Tracy Moulton (Contracts Manager)
Research and Innovation Services (RIN)
Registry
University of East Anglia
Norwich Research Park
Norwich
NR4 7TJ
United Kingdom
01603 591482
t.moulton@uea.ac.uk
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Funder name
AbbVie
Alternative name(s)
AbbVie Inc., AbbVie U.S., Abbvie
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
For-profit companies (industry)
Location
United States of America
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal estimated 2021.
IPD sharing statement:
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request
Intention to publish date
31/12/2021
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list