IMAGE-IA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Molecular Imaging using 99mTc-Maraciclatide for Detection of Joint Inflammation in Inflammatory Arthritis
IRAS ID
319320
Contact name
Kulveer Mankia
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 22 days
Research summary
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) are autoimmune diseases that cause inflammation in joints. Over time, if the inflammation is not treated, it can cause permanent joint damage, disability and impaired quality of life.
We now know that in RA and PsA, starting treatment earlier in the course of the disease can improve long term outcomes. Imaging techniques such as ultrasound (US) and MRI can be helpful in identifying joint inflammation in individuals with RA and PsA, in order to understand the best treatment to use. Both techniques tend to focus on specific joints rather than assessing inflammation in the whole body. In addition, MRI is expensive, not always readily accessible, and is incompatible with pacemakers and other metallic implants. Therefore, other imaging techniques able to detect joint inflammation at the whole body level are required.
The purpose of this study is to understand whether a whole body imaging technique called gamma scintigraphy, using a very small amount of radioactive material (a radiotracer called Technetium-99m Maraciclatide), can help detect inflammation in and around the joint in individuals with RA and PsA, and to compare the results to established imaging techniques. A UK company, called Serac Healthcare Ltd is in the late stages of developing 99mTc-maraciclatide which has been designed to be attracted to cells within inflamed joints. When the tracer is added to a very small dose of radiation (an amount similar to a standard chest CT scan) it is expected to help imaging specialists and other doctors to see inflamed joints. So far, the radiotracer (99mTc-maraciclatide) has been given to 25 healthy volunteers and over 130 patients. There have been no harmful side effects. It was also shown that the scan could make it easier for doctors to see inflamed joints.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/WM/0068
Date of REC Opinion
22 Apr 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion