Clinical trials

Background: Sleep quality is a key determinant of physical and mental health, with important implications for immune regulation, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), sleep disturbances are highly prevalent and have been associated with poorer clinical and psychosocial outcomes. However, the specific contribution of potentially modifiable behavioral and environmental factors to sleep quality in this population has been insufficiently investigated. Objectives: To analyze the association between modifiable lifestyle, behavioral, and environmental factors and sleep quality in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional observational study will be conducted. Approximately 250 adults with systemic lupus erythematosus from different regions of Spain will be included. The primary outcome will be sleep quality, assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Independent variables will include physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), substance use, sleep timing and regularity, napping habits, screen exposure, and bedroom environmental conditions. Secondary variables will include risk of obstructive sleep apnea (STOP-Bang questionnaire), daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10), as well as clinical, sociodemographic, and anthropometric variables. Expected results: To identify behavioral and environmental factors independently associated with poor sleep quality in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus and to estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality in the study sample.

Introduction. Chronic pain is a frequent complication in adults with hemophilia and hemophilic arthropathy that affects functionality and quality of life. In addition to joint damage, central pain mechanisms and psychological factors may contribute to its functional impact, although evidence in this population is limited. Objective. To analyze the association between central pain mechanisms, pain intensity, and pain-related anxiety and pain interference in daily life in adults with hemophilia and hemophilic arthropathy, adjusting for relevant clinical variables. Methods. An analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design will be conducted in 138 adults with hemophilia and hemophilic arthropathy. The dependent variable will be pain interference in daily life (Brief Pain Inventory), the main predictor variables will be central sensitization (Central Sensitization Inventory), conditioned pain modulation (Conditioned Pain Modulation Index), global pain intensity (severity subscale of the Brief Pain Inventory), and pain-related anxiety (Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale-20). As secondary predictor variables, sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and pain self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire) will be included. As confounding variables, joint damage, age, type of treatment, and history of inhibitor will be considered. The association between variables will be analyzed using multiple linear regression models adjusted for relevant clinical covariates. Expected results. It is expected to identify factors associated with pain interference in adults with hemophilia and hemophilic arthropathy, improving the understanding of its functional impact.

Introduction: Prophylaxis with emicizumab has substantially improved hemorrhagic control in hemophilia A. However, the longitudinal incidence of ultrasonographically detected articular damage in initially healthy joints remains insufficiently characterized. Objective: To estimate the incidence of ultrasonographically detected articular damage in initially healthy joints among patients with hemophilia A receiving prophylaxis with emicizumab and to explore its association with relevant clinical variables. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal, observational study will be conducted in approximately 70 patients with hemophilia A receiving emicizumab, with an estimated recruitment of approximately 270 initially healthy joints. The study is purely observational and does not involve evaluation of the investigational product nor modification of the therapeutic regimen; dosing, administration intervals, and all clinical decisions regarding emicizumab will be determined exclusively at the discretion of the treating hematologist. Assessments will be performed at baseline and at 12 and 24 months. The unit of analysis will be the joint, including elbows, knees, and ankles without ultrasonographic evidence of articular damage and without a history of clinically evident hemarthrosis at study entry. The primary endpoint will be the occurrence of incident ultrasonographically detected articular damage, assessed using the Haemophilia Early Arthropathy Detection with Ultrasound (HEAD-US) protocol. Secondary outcomes will include clinical joint health assessed by the Hemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS), version 2.1; the frequency of joint hemarthroses measured by the annualized joint bleeding rate (AJBR); and habitual physical activity levels evaluated through age-specific validated questionnaires. Statistical analyses will account for intra-patient correlation among joints. Expected Results: A low to moderate incidence of ultrasonographically detected articular damage in initially healthy joints is anticipated during follow-up, providing clinically relevant information regarding structural joint preservation in patients with hemophilia A receiving emicizumab prophylaxis.

Introduction: Hemophilic arthropathy is a common complication of hemophilia, characterized by chronic pain, functional limitation, and impaired quality of life. Cognitive-emotional factors such as catastrophizing and kinesiophobia significantly influence the pain experience, supporting the rationale for interventions grounded in the biopsychosocial model and pain neuroscience education. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an educational program based on pain neurobiology, emotional regulation, and cognitive-behavioral strategies on the pain experience in adult patients with hemophilic arthropathy. Methods: A randomized, controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups (intervention and control) and three assessment time points (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up) will be conducted. A total of 70 adult patients with hemophilia A or B and a diagnosis of hemophilic arthropathy with chronic pain will be enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group will receive a structured educational program consisting of three 60-minute sessions focused on pain neurobiology, emotional regulation, cognitive restructuring, coping strategies, and physiological downregulation techniques, including supervised physical activity as an analgesic strategy. The control group will continue with usual care without additional educational intervention. The primary outcome will be pain intensity and pain interference, assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory. Statistical analyses will be performed using repeated-measures ANOVA, with the Group × Time interaction considered the primary effect of interest, under the intention-to-treat principle. Expected Results: It is anticipated that the intervention group will demonstrate a statistically and clinically significant reduction in pain intensity and pain-related functional interference compared with the control group. A sustained clinical improvement at six months is also expected, supporting the utility of structured educational interventions as a safe and complementary strategy in the management of chronic pain in patients with hemophilic arthropathy.

Introduction: Hemophilia is a congenital coagulopathy characterised by recurrent haemarthrosis, leading to chronic arthropathy and functional impairment. Prophylactic treatment with extended half-life (EHL) or short half-life (SHL) clotting factor concentrates is the most effective strategy for preventing these episodes. EHL products have demonstrated haemostatic efficacy, with a lower frequency of infusions, potentially reducing the treatment burden, although their psychosocial impact has not yet been sufficiently explored. Objectives: To evaluate the association between perceived treatment burden and psychosocial variables such as self-efficacy, adherence, sleep quality and health locus of control, depending on the type of treatment received (EHL or SHL). Methods. Multicentre, ambispective cohort study. A total of 114 patients with haemophilia A or B undergoing EHL or SHL prophylactic treatment will be included. The primary variable will be treatment burden (Treatment Burden Questionnaire). Secondary variables will be perceived self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale), adherence (Torres scale), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), treatment adherence (Torres Questionnaire) and health locus of control (Multidimensional Health Locus of Control). Potential confounding variables will include sociodemographic data (age, educational level, living arrangements) and clinical data (number of weekly infusions, type of hospital). Expected results: Patients treated with extended-half-life products are expected to report lower treatment burden, higher self-efficacy and better sleep quality, regardless of sociodemographic or clinical factors.

Introduction: Haemophilia is a congenital coagulopathy characterised by haemarthrosis, mainly in the knees, ankles and elbows. Prophylactic treatment is the most effective therapeutic option for preventing or minimising these bleeds. Bispecific monoclonal antibodies have been shown to be effective in reducing bleeding in patients with haemophilia. Objectives: To investigate the associations between chronic residual pain and pain catastrophising, perceived self-efficacy regarding the disease and treatment, and body image and perception of visible disability. Methods. Multicentre cross-sectional cohort studies. 109 patients with severe haemophilia A from different regions of Spain will be included in the study. The primary variable will be chronic residual pain and its functional interference (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form). Secondary variables will be pain catastrophising (Pain Catastrophising Scale), perceived self-efficacy regarding the disease and treatment (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire), and body image and perception of visible disability (Body Image Scale). Potential confounding variables will include sociodemographic variables (age and educational level), clinical variables (time on monoclonal antibody treatment and number of previous bleeds in the last 12 months) and anthropometric variables (body mass index). Expected results: It is expected that residual chronic pain will persist in patients with severe haemophilia A treated with monoclonal antibodies and that it will be associated with greater catastrophising, lower self-efficacy and poorer body image, modulating the experience of pain beyond bleeding control.

Introduction: Haemophilic ankle arthropathy manifests as functional (deficit in muscle strength, mobility and proprioception), intra-articular degenerative alterations and chronic pain. Manual therapy techniques are characterised by treating the soft tissues with the aim of modifying their density, relieving pain, reducing tissue sensitivity and improving the ranges of mobility. The objective is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a manual therapy protocol in patients with haemophilic ankle arthropathy. Methods: Randomised crossover clinical trial. 13 patients with haemophilic ankle arthropathy from different regions of Spain will be recruited and randomised into two study groups (experimental and control). Each session of the experimental group will last 50 minutes, with 1 physiotherapy session per week for a period of 3 weeks. Patients will be evaluated at the beginning of the study, after the intervention and after a follow-up period of 4 weeks. The treatment programme includes 10 techniques that must be administered bilaterally. The study variables are the frequency of ankle haemarthrosis, range of movement, pressure pain threshold, pain intensity, joint status, biomechanical analysis of gait and balance, functionality and kinesiophobia. Expected results: To evaluate the safety of manual therapy in patients with haemophilia. To observe changes in pain, mobility, joint condition, stability and functionality of the ankle, and kinesiophobia.