RecruitingObservational

The role of soluble epoxide hydrolase in osteoarthritis pain

Osteoarthritis (OA) often causes pain and makes it hard to move. This study is exploring a protein called soluble epoxide hydrase (sEH) which we believe could be very important in developing new treatments for OA. sEH can break down helpful pain-relieving molecules, making them into molecules that cause inflammation. This research aims to understand the link between the amount of sEH in your knee joint, related molecules in your blood, and how much pain you feel. This will help us learn more about how to manage OA pain better in the future. We're looking for people having knee replacement surgery for their OA.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Nottingham

Enrolment target

120

Start

01 Apr 2025

Estimated completion

01 Oct 2027

Osteoarthritis

What is this study about?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition that causes pain and limits movement in many adults. We're currently looking into a specific protein in your body called soluble epoxide hydrolase, or sEH. We believe this protein could play a big role in finding new ways to treat OA, especially for managing pain.

Here's why sEH is interesting: your body naturally produces molecules that help reduce pain and inflammation. However, sEH has a job to do – it breaks down these helpful molecules into other molecules that can actually increase inflammation. Our study wants to see how the amount of sEH in your knee joint is connected to the levels of these other molecules in your blood, and most importantly, how all of this relates to the amount of pain you experience due to OA. By understanding these connections, we hope to unlock new ways to tackle OA pain more effectively.

The findings from this research won't directly help you as an individual, but the information we gather will be incredibly valuable. It will help doctors and scientists understand OA pain better and potentially lead to the development of improved treatments for future patients suffering from knee pain.

Key takeaways

The study investigates a protein called sEH and its role in knee osteoarthritis pain.
Participation involves three visits: before surgery, on surgery day, and six months after.
You'll complete questionnaires, have pain assessments, and provide blood/tissue samples.
This study won't directly improve your pain but aims to help develop future treatments.
You must be over 40 and having knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis.

Who may be eligible?

You might be able to take part if you are having knee replacement surgery at Nottingham University Hospitals because of osteoarthritis pain. You need to be over 40 years old, and there's no upper age limit. It's important that you haven't had knee surgery before on that knee and are able to clearly understand and agree to take part in the study.

However, some things might mean you can't join the study. For example, if you also have hip pain from osteoarthritis, or if you have certain serious mental health conditions or nerve problems. You also can't take part if you have active cancer, issues with your senses, or other pain conditions like fibromyalgia. If you're currently taking strong pain medication called opioids or certain nerve-pain treatments, you also won't be able to participate.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you having knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis at Nottingham University Hospitals?
Are you aged 40 or over?
Have you not had previous surgery on the knee being replaced?
Do you not have active cancer or certain other medical conditions (like fibromyalgia or severe mental illness)?
Are you able to provide your full consent to participate?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, your involvement will happen across three main stages:

**Before Your Surgery:** You'll have one research visit, which will take about an hour. Before this visit, we'll mail you a questionnaire to fill out at home (it takes about 20-30 minutes). During your visit, you'll be asked more questions about your pain and we'll do some tests to see how sensitive you are to pain. We'll also give you a shorter questionnaire (about 5 minutes) to complete before you leave. Drinks and snacks will be available.

**On the Day of Your Surgery:** A researcher will ask you three quick questions about your pain levels. During your knee replacement, your surgeon will do their usual operation. They will also collect a small amount of blood, fluid from your knee joint, and some joint tissue that would normally be thrown away. This extra collection won't change your surgery in any way.

**Six Months After Your Surgery:** You'll be invited back for another research visit, similar to your pre-surgery appointment. This will include the same pain assessments and questionnaires, plus we'll take a blood sample after you haven't eaten (a 'fasted' blood sample). Again, drinks and snacks will be provided after your blood sample is taken. In total, your participation will last from about a month before your surgery until six months afterwards.

Potential risks and benefits

While we hope you'll find taking part interesting, this study is not expected to directly improve your health or pain. However, the information we learn is crucial and will help develop better treatments for people with knee pain in the future. We will do our best to make sure your involvement is as convenient as possible. You might feel some mild, temporary pain during certain assessments, which should only last a few minutes. Taking blood samples can cause a little discomfort, a small bruise, or rarely, make you feel dizzy or faint. Trained staff will collect all blood samples to ensure your safety. Remember, you are free to stop participating in the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (2)

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust - City Campus
City only
Nottingham, England
University of Nottingham
Approximate
Nottingham, England

Common questions

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in your joints, often in your knees, because the protective cartilage wears away over time.

What is sEH and why is it important?

sEH is a protein in your body that breaks down molecules that reduce pain and inflammation. We're studying it to see if it plays a key role in osteoarthritis pain and could lead to new treatments.

Will this study help my pain?

No, this study is not expected to directly help your pain. It's a research study aimed at understanding osteoarthritis better to help future patients.

How long will I be involved in the study?

You will be involved for about a month before your knee surgery, on the day of your surgery, and then for a follow-up visit six months after your surgery.

What happens to the samples I donate?

The blood, joint fluid, and tissue samples collected during your surgery will be stored securely and used by the research team to study the link between sEH and osteoarthritis pain.

How to find out more

Thomas Kurien

tom.kurien1@nhs.net +44 (0)1158230031 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.