title: Long-term follow-up of technetium articular index in rheumatoid arthritis patients during oral chrysotherapy: evidence of paradoxical behaviour.
abstract: The Technetium Articular Index (TcAI) is regarded as a parameter of local inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We studied TcAI behaviour during 1-year chrysotherapy in a group of fifteen RA patients. In non-responders TcAI showed a gradual decrease up to the 6th month and a return to baseline values within the second semester of the follow-up; conversely, in response patients TcAI remained unchanged during the entire period of the study, thus showing a paradoxical behaviour probably depending on the recovery of normal physical ability and articular activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Satta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piga
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001310:Auranofin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000378:metabolism*; D013667:Technetium / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001310:Auranofin; D013667:Technetium