Understanding pain in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Official title: Pain Processing Mechanisms in Patients With Juvenile Arthritis
Run by Washington University School of Medicine · NCT07217782 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether temperature and pressure pain tests, questionnaires, and blood or saliva samples can help explain pain in kids and teens (ages 9–17) with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 9 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 140 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Washington University School of Medicine Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (St Louis, Missouri) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 2030 |
| Study ends | September 2035 |
| Registry record updated | July 14, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07217782 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Children and adolescents aged 9–17 who speak English, can complete surveys and testing, and have a diagnosis or suspected juvenile idiopathic arthritis (or are eligible healthy controls) are ideal participants.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals outside the 9–17 age range, non-English speakers, pregnant or breastfeeding youth, or those unable to complete psychophysical testing are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants complete a single 2.5-hour visit that includes psychophysical testing of thermal and pressure pain, plus questionnaires on demographics, social factors, pubertal stage, and behavior. Researchers may collect a saliva sample and/or a blood draw to measure immune factors and sex hormones, and will request synovial fluid only if it is obtained as part of standard care. The study enrolls both youth with diagnosed or suspected juvenile idiopathic arthritis and healthy control participants for comparison. Optional follow-up activities may be offered but are not required.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could improve understanding of what drives pain in JIA and eventually help guide more targeted pain-management approaches for children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous psychophysical and biomarker studies in pediatric and adult arthritis have offered insights into pain mechanisms but results have been variable, so this approach is promising but not definitively established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age between 9-17 2. Males and females 3. English speakers 4. Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions 5. Juvenile arthritis group: diagnosed or suspected of juvenile arthritis 6. Control group: healthy Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnancy or breastfeeding 2. (Control Group) Diagnosed with a chronic pain condition 3. (Control Group) Diagnosed with psychiatric condition including ADHD, anxiety, depression, etc.
Where it's running
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Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, PhD — Washington University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Alana McMichael, MA
- Email: painlab@wustl.edu
- Phone: 314-273-6194
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.