Children with arthritis to take part in European drug trial
CHILDREN in London and throughout the county who are crippled by arthritis are set to benefit from taking part in a major European drug trial.
A number of youngsters of all ages who suffer from juvenile chronic arthritis, will join in the multi-centre trial also being carried out in 12 other European countries.
In the UK, 160 children of all ages will be recruited from ten rheumatology centres, including Great Ormond Street and the Middlesex Hospital. In total, 800 children are taking part throughout Europe. The trial involves use of the drug methotrexate by subcutaneous injection in children who are not responding well to methotrexate in tablet form.
The UK arm of the European trial has been funded by medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign with a grant of nearly £124,000 over a three-year period.
"It has been recognised in the past that at least one third of patients will not respond very well to this drug given in low oral doses," said Dr Kevin Murray, paediatric rheumatologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Middlesex Hospital, where the UK trial will be based.
"In a number of different countries, researchers have suggested that using methotrexate by injection leads to a much improved response. If proven to be true, it will lead to a much larger number of patients benefiting from this drug, which is perhaps the most effective agent for chronic arthritis both in children and adults."
The trial is being organised by the Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation, a Europe-wide group formed to help develop multi-centre trials with sufficient numbers of patients.
Its aim is to answer critical questions about the best forms of treatment for children with rheumatic diseases, much more quickly than if each individual country worked alone. The UK is expected to be one of the most important partners in the group.
