U01AR080985

Treat-to-target serum urate versus treat-to-avoid symptoms in gout: a randomized controlled trial (TRUST) - Abstract

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis, affecting more than 9 million American adults, with a disease burden rising worldwide. Despite substantial clinical consequences, gout care is inconsistent, with considerable gaps in the evidence base.

The primary contributor to heterogeneous gout care is a lack of agreement about the value of achieving a target serum urate (SU), due to a lack of high-level evidence. Rheumatology guidelines emphasize a treat-to-target serum urate (TTT-SU) approach (e.g., SU <6 mg/dL, a urate sub-saturation point); however, citing the absence of evidence, SU is not even measured during urate-lowering therapy in the vast majority of gout patients in primary care practice, where >90% of gout care occurs.

We aim to generate high-level evidence to resolve the guideline conflict by mobilizing rheumatologists and primary care providers (PCPs). Furthermore, gout is a metabolic condition complicated by a high risk of myocardial infarction, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and premature death, although it remains unknown whether gout causally leads to these outcomes.

Removing monosodium urate crystal deposition by lowering SU can reduce gouty inflammation, likely by blunting the inflammasome pathway. However, it is unknown whether lowering SU results in less kidney damage, better glycemic control, or reduced cardiovascular risk.

NIH funding allowed us to convene a conference in 2018 (R13AR073116) with PCPs and rheumatologists to examine the existing data, define the controversies, and elicit input on the necessary information to fill the critical evidence gap. Informed by this conference, we received funding in 2020 (AR076077) to plan a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

During the past 1.5 years, we carried out key activities to gain insights from all relevant stakeholders. A modified Delphi panel, including gout patients, nurses and physician assistants, PCPs, and rheumatologists, came to consensus regarding key protocol decisions. Mock recruitment activities allowed us to test and refine feasible procedures which will lead to successful pre-screening, screening, and patient recruitment during the proposed multi-site RCT with the following two aims.

Aim 1) To conduct a RCT comparing TTASX with TTT-SU among patients with gout and hyperuricemia (HU). We have developed a trial protocol acceptable for all relevant stakeholders that will effectively answer the primary hypothesis that a TTT-SU strategy results in significantly fewer gout flares (primary outcome) over a two-year follow-up than TTASX. To ensure equipoise and generalizability, we will recruit patients from PCP practices.

Aim 2) To test the effects of lowering SU on kidney function, glycemic status, and blood pressure among patients with gout enrolled in the RCT. The corresponding hypotheses are that lowering SU to a greater extent in the TTT-SU arm compared with TTASX will result in: a) slower decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate; b) lower HbA1c; and c) improved blood pressure in gout patients.

The General Hospital Corporation

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES (NIAMS) MISSION IS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION OF ARTHRITIS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES, TRAINING OF BASIC AND CLINICAL SCIENTISTS TO CARRY OUT THIS RESEARCH, AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON RESEARCH PROGRESS IN THESE DISEASES. THE EXTRAMURAL PROGRAM PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, AND CLINICAL STUDIES OF SYSTEMIC RHEUMATIC AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, SKIN BIOLOGY AND DISEASES, BONE BIOLOGY AND DISEASES, MUSCLE BIOLOGY AND DISEASES, AND JOINT BIOLOGY AND DISEASES AND ORTHOPAEDICS. NIAMS SYSTEMIC RHEUMATIC AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES PROGRAMS ADDRESS BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, AND CLINICAL RESEARCH, INCLUDING CLINICAL TRIALS AND OBSERVATIONAL AND MECHANISTIC STUDIES, FOCUSED ON IMMUNE-MEDIATED ARTHRITIS AND AUTOIMMUNE-RELATED ACUTE AND CHRONIC DISORDERS IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN. NIAMS SKIN BIOLOGY AND DISEASES PROGRAMS SUPPORT BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, AND CLINICAL RESEARCH IN SKIN, INCLUDING BOTH COMMON AND RARE SKIN DISEASES. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE INVESTIGATIONS OF THE BASIC MOLECULAR, CELLULAR, AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY OF SKIN, AS WELL AS STUDIES OF SKIN AS AN IMMUNE, SENSORY, ENDOCRINE, AND METABOLIC ORGAN. NIAMS BONE BIOLOGY AND DISEASES PROGRAMS SUPPORT RESEARCH ON THE CONTROL OF BONE FORMATION, RESORPTION, AND MINERALIZATION AS WELL AS THE EFFECTS OF SIGNALING MOLECULES ON BONE CELLS. THEY SUPPORT CLINICAL STUDIES OF INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT FRACTURES ASSOCIATED WITH OSTEOPOROSIS AND RESEARCH INTO LESS COMMON BONE DISEASES. NIAMS MUSCLE BIOLOGY AND DISEASES PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE RESEARCH ON MUSCLE DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, GROWTH, MAINTENANCE, AND HYPERTROPHY, PHYSIOLOGY OF CONTRACTION, STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY OF THE CONTRACTILE APPARATUS, DISEASE MECHANISMS, BIOMARKERS AND OUTCOME MEASURES, AND DEVELOPMENT AND CLINICAL TESTING OF THERAPIES FOR CONDITIONS INCLUDING THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHIES. NIAMS JOINT BIOLOGY, DISEASES, AND ORTHOPAEDICS PROGRAMS SUPPORT A BROAD SPECTRUM OF RESEARCH CENTERED ON THE INTERPLAY AMONG THE BODY'S MUSCLES, BONES, AND CONNECTIVE TISSUES. THEY ENCOURAGE TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE RESEARCH, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, IMAGING, AND CLINICAL RESEARCH, AND THE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF ORTHOPAEDIC CONDITIONS. NIAMS PARTICIPATES IN THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) AND SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS. THE SBIR PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE STTR PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INST

93.846 - Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) [HHS - NIH]

Boston, Massachusetts 021142621 United States

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NIAMS Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U01 Clinical Trial Required) (PAR-21-036)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 95% from $2,046,055 to $3,983,105.