Rheumatology Clinical Outcome Measures, Health-related Quality of Life and Economic Analyses Research Group
Among the most treatment-intensive groups of children with rheumatic diseases are those diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), while Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is the most commonly encountered pediatric rheumatic disease. The measurement of response to therapy in terms of side effects and quality of life of children with rheumatic diseases is still being developed. In addition, our insight how to best treat these children is limited. This can be achieved by conducting randomized clinical trials, performing outcomes studies and economic analysis, e.g. cost-effectiveness.
We recently developed preliminary criteria for improvement of children with JRA. In collaboration with Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, we newly developed or validated the measures of health-related quality of life for children with rheumatic disease and are in the process of assessing how to best measure their physical function. For children with SLE we validated measures of disease activity and disease damage and determined the prognosis of the disease in the Greater Cincinnati Area.
Our research group works closely together with:
Current Research
Current research efforts include:
- Arthritis Research
- Development of the Advanced Childhood Assessment Questionnaire
- Biomechanical Laboratory and its use in JIA assessment
SLE/ Lupus Research Towards the Development of Guidelines for the Use of Steroids in Pediatric SLE Lupus Meaningful Outcomes for Pediatric Lupus Clinical Trials Ovarian Protection Clinical Trial of Triptorelin (Trelstar", Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Database Project - CC Outcomes of Pediatric Lupus: Neurocognitive Function Inside the Wolf's Brain – Neuroimaging of Cognitive Dysfunction in Children with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Publications
E. Sommers, H.I. Brunner, L. Nabors. Pain, Fatigue, Family Functioning, and Attitude Toward Illness in Children with Juvenile Rheumatic Diseases. J. Dev Phys Disabil, 2007; 18(2):64-.
E. Sommers, H.I. Brunner, L. Nabors. Pain, Fatigue, Family Functioning, and Attitude Toward Illness in Children with Juvenile Rheumatic Diseases. J. Dev Phys Disabil, 2007; 18(2):64-71.
J. Bleesing, E. Prada, D.M. Siegel, J. Villanueva, J. Olson, N. Ilowite, H.I. Brunner, T. Griffin, T.B. Graham, D.D. Sherry, M.H. Passo, A. Filipovich, A.A. Grom. The Diagnostic Significance of soluble CD163 and soluble IL2Ra chains in Macrophage Activation Syndrome and Untreated New Onset Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Arthritis Rheum, 2007; 729-735.
L. Nabors, E. Jobst, J. Wesiman, B. Precht, P. Chiu, H.I. Brunner. School support and Functioning for Children with Juvenile Rheumatic Diseases. J. Dev Phys Disabil, 2007; 19(2):81-89.
H.I. Brunner, A. Bishnoi, A.C. Barron, L.J. Houk, A. Ware, et al. Long-term outcomes and ovarian function in childhood-onset Systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). Lupus,2006; 15:198-206.
H.I. Brunner, T.M. Sherrard, M.S. Klein-Gitelman. Cost of Treatment of Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; Arthritis Rheum, 2006; 55:184-188.
H.I. Brunner, J. Taylor, M.T. Britto, M.S. Corcoran, S.L. Kramer, et al. Differences in disease outcomes between Medicaid and privately insured children: possible health disparities in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Arthritis Rheum, 2006; 55:378-84.
M. Chaudari, M. Moroldo, S.K. Thompson, P. Hillard, B. Huang, H.I. Brunner, D.N. Glass. Decreased reproductive fitness in childhood autoimmune arthropathy families. Rheumatology Advanced Access,2006; 10:1093.
H.I. Brunner, M. Mueller, C. Rutherford, M.H. Passo, A.A. Grom, J. Mishra, P. Devarajan. Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) as a Biomarker of Nephritis in Childhood-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum,2006; 54: 2577-2584.
H.I. Brunner, A. Bishnoi, A.C. Barron, L.J. Houk, A. Ware, et al. Long-term outcomes and ovarian function in childhood-onset Systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). Lupus, 2006; 15:198-206.
H.I. Brunner, T.M. Sherrard, M.S. Klein-Gitelman. Cost of Treatment of Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum, 2006; 55:184-188.
H.I. Brunner, J. Taylor, M.T. Britto, M.S. Corcoran, S.L. Kramer, et al. Differences in disease outcomes between Medicaid and privately insured children: possible health disparities in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Arthritis Rheum, 2006; 55:378-84.
M. Chaudari, M. Moroldo, S.K. Thompson, P. Hillard, B. Huang, H.I. Brunner, D.N. Glass. Decreased reproductive fitness in childhood autoimmune arthropathy families. Rheumatology Advanced Access, 2006; 10.1093.
H.I. Brunner, M. Mueller, C. Rutherford, M.H. Passo, et al. Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) as a Biomarker of Nephritis in Childhood-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum, 2006; 54:2577-2584.
H.I. Brunner, M.S. Klein-Gitelman, M.J. Miller, N. Baldwin, M. Trombley, et al. Minimal clinically important differences of the childhood health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ). J Rheumatol; 2005; 32:150-162.
G.D. Myer, H.I. Brunner, P.G. Melson, M.V. Paterno, K.R. Ford, T.E. Hewett. Improved neuromuscular function and biomechanics with specialized neuromuscular training in a patient with quiescent juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a case report. Phys Ther., Aug 2005; 85:791-802.
B. Carey, M. DeLay, J.E. Strasser, C. Chalk, K. Dudley-McClain, G.N. Milligan, H.I. Brunner, S. Thornton, R. Hirsch. A Soluble Divalent Class I MHC/IgG Fusion Protein Activates CD8+T Cells in vivo. Clin Immunol, Jul 2005; 116: 65-76.
H.I. Brunner, A.C. Barron, L. Johnson, T.B. Graham, M.H. Passo, T. Jackson, D.J. Lovell. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and their association with health related quality of life of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) - validation of a GI symptom questionnaire. J Clin Rheumatol, 2005; 11:194- 204.
C.V. Oddis, L.G. Rider, A.M. Reed, N. Ruperto, H.I. Brunner, B. Koneru, B.M. Feldman, E.H. Giannini. F.W. Miller for the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group (IMACS). Arthritis Rheum,2005; 52: 2607-15.
N. Fall, K.E. Bove, K. Stirnger, D.J. Lovell, H.I. Brunner, N.T. Ilowite, G.C. Higgins, S.L. Bowyer, T.B. Graham, S. Thornton, A. Grom. Lack of angiogenic response in muscle tissues form patients with juvenile dermatomyositis is associated with high expression of angiostatic ELR-negative CXC-chemokines: Possible link to vasculopathy. Arthritis Rheum,2005; 52:3175-80.
A.C. Barron, T-L. Lee, J. Taylor, T. Moore, M.H. Passo, T.B. Graham, T.A. Griffin, A.A. Grom, D.J. Lovell, H.I. Brunner. Feasibility and Construct Validity of the Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) Technique for Measuring Health Care Preferences of Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Arthritis Rheum, 2004; 51:899-908.
H.I. Brunner, M.S. Klein-Gitelman, M.J. Miller, N. Baldwin, M. Trombley, et al. Minimal clinically important differences of the childhood health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ). J Rheumatol, 2005; 32:150-162.
G.D. Myer, H.I. Brunner, P.G. Melson, M.V. Paterno, K.R. Ford, T.E. Hewett. Improved neuromuscular function and biomechanics with specialized neuromuscular training in a patient with quiescent juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a case report. Phys Ther., 2005; 85: 791-802.
B. Carey, M. DeLay, J.E. Strasser, C. Chalk, K. Dudley-McClain, G.N. Milligan, H.I. Brunner, S. Thornton, R. Hirsch. A Soluble Divalent Class I MHC/IgG Fusion Protein Activates CD8+T Cells in vivo. Clin Immunol, 2005; 116:65-76.
H.I. Brunner, A.C. Barron, L. Johnson, T.B. Graham, M.H. Passo, T. Jackson, D.J. Lovell. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and their association with health related quality of life of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) – validation of a GI symptom questionnaire. J Clin Rheumatol, 2005; 194- 204.
N. Fall, K.E. Bove, K. Stirnger, D.J. Lovell, H.I. Brunner, et al. Lack of angiogenic response in muscle tissues form patients with juvenile dermatomyositis is associated with high expression of angiostatic ELR-negative CXC-chemokines: Possible link to vasculopathy. Arthritis Rheum, 2005; 3175-80.
A.C. Barron, T-L. Lee, J. Taylor, T. Moore, M.H. Passo, T.B. Graham, T.A. Griffin, A.A. Grom, D.J. Lovell, H.I. Brunner. Feasibility and Construct Validity of the Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) Technique for Measuring Health Care Preferences of Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Arthritis & Rheumatism,2004; 51:763-773.
H.I. Brunner, M.S. Klein-Gitelman, M.J. Miller, N. Baldwin, M. Trombley, et al. Minimal clinically important differences of the childhood health assessment questionnaire(CHAQ). J Rheumatology; 2004; 32:150-162.
D.D. Albuquerque, V. Saxena, D. Adams, G. Bovin, H.I. Brunner, D. Witte, R.R. Singh. An ACE inhibitor reduces Th2 cytokines and TGFb-1 and -2 isoforms in murine lupus nephritis. Kidney International, 2004; 65:846-859.
L.G. Rider, E.H. Giannini, H.I. Brunner, N. Ruperto, L.J. Newton, A.M. Reed, P.A. Lachenbruch. F.W. Miller for the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group (IMACS). International Consensus Outcome Measures for Patients with Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies. Preliminary Definitions of Improvement for Adult and Juvenile Myositis. Arthritis Rheum, 2004; 50: 2281-90.
H.I. Brunner, M. Klein-Gitelman, M.J. Miller, N. Baldwin, et al. Health of children with chronic musculoskeletal diseases: relationship of different measures and the quality of parent-proxy reporting. Arthritis Rheum, 2004; 51:763-773.
Peer Reviewer For
Contact Us
The Rheumatology Clinical Outcome Measures, Health-related Quality of Life and Economic Analyses Research Group is directed by Hermine I. Brunner, MD, MSc, and is part of the William S. Rowe Division of Rheumatology at Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation and the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. Our offices are located in Location E2.
Our laboratory participates in post-doctoral training through the University of Cincinnati Graduate School and the Physican Scientist Training Program.
Inquiries from interested trainees are always welcome. Please contact Hermine Brunner at:
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
William S. Rowe Division of Rheumatology
3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 4010
Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039
Phone: 513-636-2143
Fax: 513-636-5990
E-mail: Hermine.brunner@cchmc.org
