Methotrexate for chronic arthritis after chikungunya infection
Official title: Methotrexate treatment of Arthritis caused by Chikungunya virus (MARCH): A randomized controlled trial of methotrexate versus placebo in the treatment of chronic arthritis after chikungunya infection
Funded at George Washington University · NIH-11191592 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research compares methotrexate to a placebo to see if it reduces joint inflammation and pain in people with long-lasting arthritis following chikungunya infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,054,927 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AR079717-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11191592 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with persistent arthritis after confirmed chikungunya infection and evidence of synovitis who meet the trial's eligibility criteria and can attend study visits are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without prior chikungunya infection, whose arthritis is due to another diagnosed cause, or who cannot take methotrexate for medical reasons are unlikely to benefit from participating.
What this research studies
If you have ongoing arthritis after chikungunya, you may be randomly assigned to take oral methotrexate for six months or a matching placebo, with about twice as many people receiving methotrexate (100) as placebo (50). Small synovial biopsy samples will be taken before and during treatment to look directly at joint inflammation and immune cells. Study staff will also track your symptoms, pain, and other clinical measures during follow-up visits. The goal is to compare symptom changes and the biology of inflamed joints between the methotrexate and placebo groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could establish an affordable, evidence-based treatment to reduce pain and inflammation for people with chronic chikungunya arthritis.
How similar studies have gone: Clinical guidelines and observational reports have suggested methotrexate may help chronic chikungunya arthritis, but randomized placebo-controlled trials have not previously confirmed this.
Where this research is happening
-
George Washington University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chang, Aileen — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Chang, Aileen
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.