Magnetic resonance angiography for vertebral artery evaluation in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
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.
Zenmyo
Michihisa
M
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kagoshima Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Kagoshima Japan.
Ijiri
Kosei
K
Sasaki
Hiromi
H
Sakakima
Harutoshi
H
Taketomi
Eiji
E
Nagayoshi
Ryusaku
R
Yamamoto
Takuya
T
Komiya
Setsuro
S
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