This study will collect white blood cells or plasma (the liquid part of the blood), or both, from healthy volunteers and from patients with rheumatic disorders for research purposes. Rheumatic disorders involve abnormalities of the immune system, the body's defense against disease. The immune system consists of white blood cells such as lymphocytes and monocytes, which produce substances such as antibodies and cytokines. White cells and plasma will be collected through a procedure called apheresis (described below).

Healthy volunteers and patients with confirmed or suspected rheumatic disease who are 18 years of age or older may be eligible for this study. Patients must be participating in a current protocol of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. All candidates will be screened with a history, physical examination, and blood tests for hepatitis B and C and HIV infection. Women of childbearing age will be tested for pregnancy. Routine blood tests will be done in all volunteers, and in patients where needed. Pregnant women and people who test positive for hepatitis or HIV may not participate.

Participants will undergo apheresis to collect lymphocytes, monocytes, or plasma from the blood. For this procedure, a needle is placed in a vein in the arm. Blood flows from the vein through a tube (catheter) into a machine that spins the blood, separating it into its components. The required cells or plasma are extracted, and the rest of the blood, including the red cells and platelets, is returned to the body through the same needle or through a second needle placed in the other arm.

Cells collected from volunteers will be used in studies comparing the number and function of similar cells from patients with rheumatic diseases, focusing on the differences in number and function of the cells in health and disease. Components collected from patients will be used only for studies described in the protocol in which they are currently enrolled.

Condition
Rheumatic Diseases Healthy

Further Study Details: 

Expected Total Enrollment:  9999

Blood components will be collected using apheresis from normal volunteers and patients with rheumatic diseases. Mononuclear cells and plasma will be used by various investigators for research studies.

Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA - Subjects with Rheumatic Diseases:
Patients with a diagnosed or suspected rheumatic disease, who are actively involved in a NIAMS protocol (have a current, signed consent form)
Ability to give informed consent
Age greater than or equal to 18 years
EXCLUSION CRITERIA - Subjects with Rheumatic Diseases:
History of allergy to acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD) anticoagulant
History of bleeding diatheses
Hemoglobin less than 9.0 g/dL
Platelet count less than 50,000/mm(3)
Pregnancy
Inadequate peripheral venous access
Active hepatitis B, C and/or HIV infection
Symptomatic coronary artery or valvular heart disease
Any concomitant illness that in the opinion of the investigators will substantially increase risk of apheresis.
INCLUSION CRITERIA - Healthy Volunteers:
Subjects shall meet all donor eligibility criteria for autologous blood donation recommended or required by the Standards of the American Association of Blood Banks (1) and the Code of Federal Regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (2), with the exception of the travel exclusions related to malaria exposure and hypothetical exposure to the agent of variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease.
Ability to give informed consent
Age greater than or equal to 18 years
EXCLUSION CRITERIA - Healthy Volunteers:
History of autoimmune or chronic rheumatic disease within the last 5 years, with the exception of osteoarthritis
Active hepatitis B, C, and/or HIV infection
History of allergy to acid-citrate (ACD) anticoagulant
History of coagulopathies and bleeding diatheses
Symptomatic coronary artery disease or valvular heart disease
Hemoglobin less than 12.0 g/dL
Platelet count less than 100,000/cubic mm
Pregnancy
Inadequate peripheral venous access
Any concomitant illness that in the opinion of the investigators will substantially increase the risk of apheresis or make the volunteer ineligible for study controls are needed for (eg: active infection, allergies, etc.)

Maryland
      National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), 9000 Rockville Pike,  Bethesda,  Maryland,  20892,  United States; Recruiting

Study ID Numbers:  020131; 02-AR-0131
Record last reviewed:  January 21, 2004
Last Updated:  November 23, 2004
Record first received:  February 26, 2002
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00031174
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-04-08