Waren Muritz

Researchers are evaluating the retention rates of two treatments, Upadacitinib (UPA) and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), in adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study is observational, conducted in Germany, and aims to compare how long patients stay on each treatment under real-world conditions according to local labels and standard care. About 678 participants will be enrolled across approximately 80 sites in Germany. Participants will have been prescribed UPA or TNFi independently of the study, following approved labels and local regulations. The study will observe participants receiving either UPA or TNFi therapy over a period of up to 24 months. Participants will be followed for up to 24 months to assess treatment retention. Researchers will monitor how long participants remain on their prescribed treatment and collect related clinical data. The total study duration, including recruitment and follow-up, is expected to last about 48 months.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is an immune-related inflammatory disease mainly affecting the spine, causing chronic back pain and significantly impacting quality of life with symptoms like sleep problems, social isolation, and emotional distress. This research is evaluating the real-world effectiveness of the drug upadacitinib in controlling disease activity and managing pain in adults with active axSpA in Germany. Participants will receive oral upadacitinib tablets as prescribed by their doctors before joining the study, following local guidelines on dosage and treatment. The study will last about 52 weeks, during which participants will continue their prescribed treatment and attend regular medical visits as part of routine care. Throughout the study, researchers will monitor disease activity and treatment effects using medical assessments, side effect checks, and questionnaires. The main focus is on how many participants achieve and maintain low disease activity scores over 24 and 52 weeks, assessing both clinical and patient-reported outcomes related to pain and disease burden.

Researchers are evaluating two medications, prednisolone and colchicine, for treating acute gout attacks, a common rheumatic disease where urate crystals cause severe joint pain. This study focuses on patients treated in general practice, including those with common health conditions often excluded in past research. The goal is to determine if prednisolone is comparable or only slightly less effective than colchicine in reducing pain during gout attacks. This phase 4 trial is conducted as a double-blind, randomized, controlled study across multiple university sites in Germany. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either prednisolone or colchicine tablets for five days, with both groups also receiving placebo tablets to maintain blinding. The study uses the double-dummy method to ensure neither patients nor doctors know which treatment is given. Additionally, participants have the option to undergo a dual-energy CT scan of their feet to detect urate crystal deposits, which may provide insights into disease burden. During the study, patients will visit their general practitioner twice: once at the start and again after about one week. They will complete daily diaries tracking pain, joint swelling, tenderness, and any additional pain medication use for six days. Blood tests will check uric acid levels, inflammation, and kidney function. After four weeks, participants will be contacted by phone to assess recovery, recurrence, treatment, work incapacity, and side effects. The main measurement is the highest pain level reported on day 3 after starting treatment.