Clinical Trials

Inclusion Criteria:

Subjects who are recruited to the study will donate blood.  We will try to obtain this sample during a previously scheduled blood draw to minimize the number of needle sticks.  However, we may draw blood solely for research purposes when necessary.   Details of sample collection for newly recruited subjects are described below:

• Subjects will be enrolled in either an outpatient or inpatient setting:

Outpatients:

1. Subjects may be enrolled in Rheumatology by trained interviewers (study staff), and blood may be drawn at the next visit for which they are scheduled to have blood drawn.The interviewer will explain what participation entails.
2. Participants will be asked to sign a written consent form that will allow us to conduct research to identify markers that predict health and disease status and disease progression.
3. Results of “c” will be obtained from the patient’s chart. Participants will donate blood (finger sticks or venipuncture) as clinically warranted for a period of 1 year. Some participants may have 1 visit and some may have 4 visits but these will be determined by the treating physician. All subjects will initially donate 4 mL of blood at the same time of obtaining consent (if the patient has not yet had a blood sample collected), or at the next scheduled phlebotomy appointment for blood collections. Participants may be asked to donate more blood in the future, if it is deemed clinically necessary. At the re-draws, a total of 4 mL blood will be drawn.See details below.
   1. Participants will be asked questions about their medical history, medication history, and demographics, and
   2. Physical examination

Inpatients:

1. Patients will be enrolled during their inpatient stay and will have samples drawn during a scheduled blood draw whenever possible.