Glossary of Terms

A

ACR (American College of Rheumatology) - The American College of Rheumatology is an organisation of and for physicians, health professionals, and scientists and its mission is advancing rheumatology. The ACR provides its members with programs of education, research, advocacy, and practice support.

Anti-TNF (Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor) – Tumour Necrosis Factor is a biological molecule that is involved in inflammation when too much is present in the blood or joints as in arthritis. An anti-TNF is a biological drug that blocks the action of TNF.

ARUK – Arthritis Research UK – an Arthritis charity.  ARUK are the biggest funder of research into the cause, treatment and cure of all forms of arthritis in the UK.

B

B-cell – B cells are defender cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.  In autoimmune diseases, such as in RA, these antibodies attack the body’s own tissues.

Biomarker - a measurable substance in a person where it’s presence is indicative of a physiological state such as the presence or stage of a disease.

CI (Chief Investigator) - The Investigator with overall responsibility for the research. In a multi-site study the CI also has a co-coordinating role.

Clinical Trial - (Clinical Trial of Investigational Medicinal Product) - Clinical trial refers to any prospective evaluation of a health care intervention, which involves the administration of a treatment.

CTIMP - A clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product (CTIMP) is a legal definition and describes those trials which fall within the scope of the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004.

D

DAS28 (Disease Activity Score 28) - The DAS28 is a frequent outcome measure used in therapeutic trials and is also used to guide treatment decisions and describe disease activity in patients with RA and other rheumatic conditions. It is the basis for several other RA measurement tools, including the EULAR response criteria. Taken form http://www.iche.edu/newsletter/DAS28.pdf

DMARD (Disease modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs) - drugs used in rheumatoid arthritis to suppress the disease and reduce inflammation. Unlike painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), DMARDs treat the disease itself rather than just reducing the pain and stiffness caused by the disease.

E

EMR (Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology) -

Etanercept

EULAR

F

G

H

Histomorphometry

I

IMP (Investigational Medicinal Product)

Inflammatory disease

J

K

L

M

MATURA (Maximising Therapeutic Utility in Rheumatoid Arthritis)

Methotrexate

MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency)

MPAG (MATURA Patient Advisory Group) –

MRC – (Medical Research Council)

N

NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) -

O

P

Participant - An individual who takes part in a clinical trial

Pathobiology

Pathotype

PI (Principle Investigator)

PIS (Patient Information Sheet)

Q

QMTAG 

QMUL  (Queen Mary University of London) -

R

RA

RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis)

Randomisation         

RCT (Randomised Controlled Trial) - A Randomised Controlled Trial is a scientific procedure in which treatments are allocated to subjects at random, in order to eliminate bias. It is considered the most reliable form of scientific evidence because it ensures that different treatment groups are statistically equivalent.

REC (Research Ethics Committee) -

Rituximab

S

STRAP (Stratification of Biologic Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis by Pathobiology) -

T

Tocilizumab

U

V

W

WLQ-25 (Work Limitations Questionnaire)

X

Y

Z