Rheumatoid Arthritis (RACAT-RANCT07315997
The Coronary Artery Calcium and Troponins in Rheumatoid Arthritis (CAT-RA) Study
An observational study of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD), run by Brigham and Women's Hospital at 3 sites in United States.
Trial summary
Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have up to 2x the risk of having a heart attack compared to someone without RA. The goal of this study is to identify biomarkers that can help us do a better job of identifying individuals at risk before they develop symptoms of heart disease and start preventative treatment… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 35 to 79 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA, Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)
- What is being tested?
- high sensitivity cardiac troponin
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 4 Sep 2024to 4 Mar 2028
- How long will I take part?
- 2 Years
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 35 to 79 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, age 40- 79 years, with one cardiovascular risk factor and not on a statin or has a contraindication to statin therapy.
Who may be able to join
- RA diagnosed by a rheumatologist
- Age 40- 79
- ≥1 ASCVD risk factor including prediabetes, hypertension, BMI >30, current or history of cigarette smoking
Who cannot join
- Patients on a statin or with a contraindication to statin, on a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, or on a PCSK9 inhibitor
- Patients with diabetes mellitus
- Pregnancy
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States3 sites, 3 recruiting
- Recruiting
Massachusetts General Hospital: Rheumatology
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
Sheila Arvikar, MD, 6177267938, sarvikar@mgh.harvard.edu
Abisayo Animashaun, MS, 617-732-8169, aanimashaun@mgb.org
- Recruiting
Brigham and Womens Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115
Katherine P Liao, MD, MPH, 617-525-8819, kliao@bwh.harvard.edu
Abisayo Animashaun, MS, 617-732-8169, aanimashaun@mgb.org
- Recruiting
Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02130
Nicole Yang, MD, 6179837720, nyang2@bwh.harvard.edu
Abisayo Animashaun, MS, 617-732-8169, aanimashaun@mgb.org
About this study
Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have up to 2x the risk of having a heart attack compared to someone without RA. The goal of this study is to identify biomarkers that can help us do a better job of identifying individuals at risk before they develop symptoms of heart disease and start preventative treatment earlier.
Read the detailed description
The objective of this study is to test the utility of high sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in risk stratifying patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who may benefit from lipid lowering therapy. The population of interest are individuals who would not otherwise be recommended for therapy based on general population risk calculators for heart disease risk.
- Being tested
- high sensitivity cardiac troponin
- Keywords
- CAT-RA
- Medical subject headings
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Atherosclerosis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
high sensitivity cardiac troponinDiagnostic test
Blood measurement of high sensitivity cardiac troponin
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
coronary artery calcium score
Quantified coronary artery calcium score
Measured: Cross-sectional, at baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Jan 2026
- Study start4 Sep 2024
- Primary completion4 Mar 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion4 Mar 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RAStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Brigham and Women's HospitalThe 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 2 Years
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Katherine P Liao, Brigham and Women's Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07315997
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024P001981
- Acronym
- CAT-RA
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 31 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 14 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Pending IRB approval.
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
- The Coronary Artery Calcium and Troponins in Rheumatoid Arthritis (CAT-RA) Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07315997
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CAT-RA / 2024P001981
- Keywords
- CAT-RA
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Brigham and Women's HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
- Study start
- 4 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 4 Mar 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 4 Mar 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Jan 2026 (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.
Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have up to 2x the risk of having a heart attack compared to someone without RA. The goal of this study is to identify biomarkers that can help us do a better job of identifying individuals at risk before they develop symptoms of heart disease and start preventative treatment earlier.
Detailed description
The objective of this study is to test the utility of high sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in risk stratifying patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who may benefit from lipid lowering therapy. The population of interest are individuals who would not otherwise be recommended for therapy based on general population risk calculators for heart disease risk.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Target follow-up
- 2 Years
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 35 to 79 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, age 40- 79 years, with one cardiovascular risk factor and not on a statin or has a contraindication to statin therapy.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- RA diagnosed by a rheumatologist
- Age 40- 79
- ≥1 ASCVD risk factor including prediabetes, hypertension, BMI >30, current or history of cigarette smoking
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Patients on a statin or with a contraindication to statin, on a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, or on a PCSK9 inhibitor
- Patients with diabetes mellitus
- Pregnancy
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 |
|---|---|---|
| high sensitivity cardiac troponinBlood measurement of high sensitivity cardiac troponin | Diagnostic test | – |
Primary outcome
coronary artery calcium score
Time frame: Cross-sectional, at baseline
Quantified coronary artery calcium score
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.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Pending IRB approval.
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.
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD), run by Brigham and Women's Hospital at 3 sites 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 3 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 3 sites 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?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
coronary artery calcium score (time frame: Cross-sectional, at baseline). 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.