title: Magnetic resonance angiography for vertebral artery evaluation in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the radiological features of vertebral artery (VA) displacement/occlusion associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) spine using magnetic resonance angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven RA patients with upper cervical lesions were evaluated for patency or abnormality of the VA by extracranial magnetic resonance angiography, with comparison of findings with those of 46 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VA occlusion occurred in 4 patients (8.5%) and VA stenosis in 9 patients (19.1%). Anomaly of the VA was also observed in 3 patients (6.4%). No occlusion or anomaly was found in healthy volunteers, but 1 case of stenosis was found. Severity of vertical subluxation was correlated with the presence of VA abnormality in RA patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of VA abnormality was 34% in RA patients and 2% in healthy volunteers. Magnetic resonance angiography is useful for screening for abnormality of the entire VA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kagoshima Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Kagoshima Japan.
authors.forename: Michihisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zenmyo
authors.forename: Kosei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ijiri
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Harutoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakakima
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taketomi
authors.forename: Ryusaku
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagayoshi
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Setsuro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komiya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025241:Spondylarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology