PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Barry Bresnihan
AU  - Dominique Baeten
AU  - Gary S Firestein
AU  - Oliver M Fitzgerald
AU  - Danielle M Gerlag
AU  - Jasper J Haringman
AU  - Iain B McInnes
AU  - Richard J Reece
AU  - Malcolm D Smith
AU  - Ann-Kristin Ulfgren
AU  - Douglas J Veale
AU  - Paul Peter Tak
AU  - OMERACT 7 Special Interest Group
TI  - Synovial tissue analysis in clinical trials.
DP  - 2005 Dec 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 2481--2484
VI  - 32
IP  - 12
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/32/12/2481.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/32/12/2481.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2005 Dec 01; 32
AB  - Synovial tissue analysis has considerable potential for future randomized controlled trials (RCT). The synovial membrane is the target tissue in treatment strategies of rheumatoid arthritis and other arthropathies. Effective modulation of synovitis is critical when attempting to control symptoms and signs, to prevent joint damage, and to maintain function. In RCT, the systematic evaluation of changes in synovial tissue after commencing treatment enables identification of an early therapeutic effect, using relatively small numbers of patients. This special interest group is working on establishing the evidence to have this endpoint meet the OMERACT filter criteria.