Juvenile Idiopathic ArthritisNCT07217782
Pain in Juvenile Arthritis
A study testing Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal) and Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds) in people with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, run by Washington University School of Medicine at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatologic disease in children. The main symptoms of JIA, which are often the primary focus of treatment, include joint swelling, stiffness, and tenderness. Additional symptoms can include malaise, fatigue, and pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 9 to 17 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- What is being tested?
- Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal) and Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 140 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 15 Sep 2025to Sep 2035
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 9 to 17 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Age between 9-17
- Males and females
- English speakers
- Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions
- Juvenile arthritis group: diagnosed or suspected of juvenile arthritis
- Control group: healthy
Who cannot join
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- (Control Group) Diagnosed with a chronic pain condition
- (Control Group) Diagnosed with psychiatric condition including ADHD, anxiety, depression, etc.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, 63017
Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, PhD, 314-273-6194, painlab@wustl.edu
Alana McMichael, MA, 314-273-6194, painlab@wustl.edu
About this study
Official title: Pain Processing Mechanisms in Patients With Juvenile Arthritis
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatologic disease in children. The main symptoms of JIA, which are often the primary focus of treatment, include joint swelling, stiffness, and tenderness. Additional symptoms can include malaise, fatigue, and pain. However, the exact mechanisms contributing to pain are not yet fully understood. Participants will complete a 2.5-hours study session.
In the study session, psychophysical assessments of thermal and pressure stimuli will be performed. In addition, demographic, social, pubertal maturation, and behavioral and psychological factors will be collected via questionnaires. A saliva sample and/or blood draw may occur for the analysis of various immune factors and sex hormones. If a joint aspiration is done as part of their standard of care, we will request a sample of the synovial fluid for analyses of immune, hormonal and/or genetic factors. Participants will have the option to participate in additional optional follow-up study visits (every 3 months, up to 1 year) and to complete monthly surveys asking about their juvenile arthritis.
- Conditions
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Being tested
- Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal), Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)
- Medical subject headings
- Arthritis, Juvenile
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal)Behavioural
Pressure will be increased continually and participants will be instructed to press a button the first moment they feel pain from the pressure stimulus. The first threshold measurement will be used as a familiarization. The average threshold is calculated from three measurements. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity
Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)Behavioural
Cold pain tolerance will be assessed by having participants immerse their hand or foot in a cold (4-12°C) water bath. Tolerance will be defined by the time of hand withdrawal. Pain ratings of cold pain intensity might be obtained periodically, and both pain intensity and pain unpleasantness will be recorded upon hand/foot withdrawal. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| JIA | Other | Inclusion:
1. Age between 9-17
2. Males and females
3. English speakers
4. Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions
5. Diagnosed or suspected of juvenile arthritis
Exclusion Criteria
Participants will not be enrolled if any of the following criteria exist and based on the investigator discretion:
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. Receives: Behavioral: Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal); Behavioral: Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds) |
| Controls | Other | Inclusion:
1. Age between 9-17
2. Males and females
3. English speakers
4. Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions
5. Healthy
Exclusion Criteria
Participants will not be enrolled if any of the following criteria exist and based on the investigator discretion:
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. Receives: Behavioral: Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal); Behavioral: Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) (measured in kilopascal)
Differences in PPT between patients and controls.
Pressure will be increased continually and participants will be instructed to press a button the first moment they feel pain from the pressure stimulus. The first threshold measurement will be used as a familiarization. The average threshold is calculated from three measurements. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity
Measured: 1 year
Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)
Differences between patients and controls
Cold pain tolerance will be assessed by having participants immerse their hand or foot in a cold (4-12°C) water bath. Tolerance will be defined by the time of hand withdrawal. Pain ratings of cold pain intensity might be obtained periodically, and both pain intensity and pain unpleasantness will be recorded upon hand/foot withdrawal. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity
Measured: 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Oct 2025
- Study start15 Sep 2025
- Primary completionSep 2030 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2035 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Juvenile Idiopathic ArthritisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Washington University School of MedicineThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Washington University School of Medicine
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, Washington University School of Medicine
- Investigators
- Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, PhD, Principal investigator, Washington University School of Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07217782
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 202505170
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 14 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Pain Processing Mechanisms in Patients With Juvenile Arthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07217782
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 202505170
- Conditions
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Washington University School of MedicineUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2035 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatologic disease in children. The main symptoms of JIA, which are often the primary focus of treatment, include joint swelling, stiffness, and tenderness. Additional symptoms can include malaise, fatigue, and pain. However, the exact mechanisms contributing to pain are not yet fully understood. Participants will complete a 2.5-hours study session.
In the study session, psychophysical assessments of thermal and pressure stimuli will be performed. In addition, demographic, social, pubertal maturation, and behavioral and psychological factors will be collected via questionnaires. A saliva sample and/or blood draw may occur for the analysis of various immune factors and sex hormones. If a joint aspiration is done as part of their standard of care, we will request a sample of the synovial fluid for analyses of immune, hormonal and/or genetic factors. Participants will have the option to participate in additional optional follow-up study visits (every 3 months, up to 1 year) and to complete monthly surveys asking about their juvenile arthritis.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| JIA | Other | Behavioral: Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal), Behavioral: Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)Inclusion: 1. Age between 9-17 2. Males and females 3. English speakers 4. Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions 5. Diagnosed or suspected of juvenile arthritis Exclusion Criteria Participants will not be enrolled if any of the following criteria exist and based on the investigator discretion: 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. |
| Controls | Other | Behavioral: Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal), Behavioral: Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)Inclusion: 1. Age between 9-17 2. Males and females 3. English speakers 4. Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions 5. Healthy Exclusion Criteria Participants will not be enrolled if any of the following criteria exist and based on the investigator discretion: 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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 9 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Age between 9-17
- Males and females
- English speakers
- Able to complete surveys and understand study instructions
- Juvenile arthritis group: diagnosed or suspected of juvenile arthritis
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- (Control Group) Diagnosed with a chronic pain condition
- (Control Group) Diagnosed with psychiatric condition including ADHD, anxiety, depression, etc.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal)Pressure will be increased continually and participants will be instructed to press a button the first moment they feel pain from the pressure stimulus. The first threshold measurement will be used as a familiarization. The average threshold is calculated from three measurements. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity | Behavioural | Controls, JIA |
| Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)Cold pain tolerance will be assessed by having participants immerse their hand or foot in a cold (4-12°C) water bath. Tolerance will be defined by the time of hand withdrawal. Pain ratings of cold pain intensity might be obtained periodically, and both pain intensity and pain unpleasantness will be recorded upon hand/foot withdrawal. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity | Behavioural | Controls, JIA |
Primary outcome
Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) (measured in kilopascal)
Time frame: 1 year
Differences in PPT between patients and controls. Pressure will be increased continually and participants will be instructed to press a button the first moment they feel pain from the pressure stimulus. The first threshold measurement will be used as a familiarization. The average threshold is calculated from three measurements. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity
Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds)
Time frame: 1 year
Differences between patients and controls Cold pain tolerance will be assessed by having participants immerse their hand or foot in a cold (4-12°C) water bath. Tolerance will be defined by the time of hand withdrawal. Pain ratings of cold pain intensity might be obtained periodically, and both pain intensity and pain unpleasantness will be recorded upon hand/foot withdrawal. Higher value indicates lower experimental pain sensitivity
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Jul 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, PhD principal investigator
Washington University School of Medicine
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Pressure pain thresholds (measured in kilopascal) and Cold pain tolerance (duration in seconds) in people with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, run by Washington University School of Medicine at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Alana McMichael, MA (314-273-6194, painlab@wustl.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) (measured in kilopascal) (time frame: 1 year). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Jul 2026.