[Magnetic resonance imaging as a marker of inflammation, destruction and prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis wrists].
To evaluate MRI for assessment of inflammation, destruction and prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 26 RA patients, randomized to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy alone or in combination with oral prednisolone, were followed for one year with contrast-enhanced MRI of the dominant wrist (months zero, three, six and 12), conventional radiography and clinical and biochemical examinations. Significant synovial membrane volume reductions were observed in both groups, earliest in the DMARD + prednisolone group. The rate of erosive progression on MRI was highly correlated with baseline and area-under-curve (AUC)-values of synovial membrane volume, but not with baseline or AUC-values of local or global clinical or biochemical parameters, nor with +/- prednisolone. MRI was more sensitive than radiography as regards detection of progressive bone destruction (22 versus 12 new bone erosions). MRI may prove valuable as marker of joint disease activity and destruction and, perhaps, prognosis in RA.
Ostergaard
M
M
H:S Hvidovre Hospital, reumatologisk afdeling. mo@dadlnet.dk
Hansen
M S
MS
Stoltenberg
M B
MB
Gideon
P
P
Jensen
K E
KE
Klarlund
M
M
Lorenzen
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D011239:Prednisolone