Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients: radiologic progression and correlation of Genant/Sharp and Larsen scoring methods.
OBJECTIVE
The Genant/Sharp scoring method is a validated radiologic scoring system useful for diagnosing, classifying, and defining specific clinical problems associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The Genant/Sharp scoring method is described, and its level of correlation with the Larsen scoring method is discussed.


METHODS
The Genant/Sharp scoring system evaluates erosion, joint space narrowing (JSN), and a combination of erosion and JSN referred to as the total score. This method was used to determine change in radiographic progression during 2 consecutive 6-month intervals within a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in patients with RA. These results were compared with the results obtained through the Larsen scoring method to determine their correlation.


RESULTS
The Genant/Sharp scoring method showed a moderate correlation with the Larsen scoring method, particularly at baseline, and showed similar treatment trends in a study of IL-1ra in patients with RA.


CONCLUSIONS
The Genant/Sharp scoring method provides an alternative to the Sharp and Larsen approaches for radiographic assessment in RA.
Genant
H K
HK
Department of Radiology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001175:Arthrography; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins