title: Changes in microarchitectural characteristics at the tibial epiphysis induced by collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis over time.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the time course of changes in the microarchitecture of the tibial epiphysis with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although such information would be valuable in predicting risk of fracture. Therefore, we used in vivo microcomputed tomography (μ-CT) to assess patterns of microarchitectural alterations in the tibial epiphysis using collagen-induced RA in an animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bovine type II collagen was injected intradermally into the tails of rats for induction of RA. The tibial joints were scanned by in vivo μ-CT at 0, 4, and 8 weeks following injection. Microarchitectural parameters were measured to evaluate alteration patterns of bone microarchitecture at the tibial epiphysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The microarchitectural alterations in an RA group were significantly different from those in a control group from 0 to 4 weeks and from 4 to 8 weeks following injection (P < 0.05). The distribution of trabecular bone thickness and trabecular bone separation from 0 weeks to 8 weeks differed significantly (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the patterns of microarchitectural alterations at the tibial epiphysis are strongly affected by collagen-induced progression of RA and entail a severe risk of fracture at the tibial epiphysis. This study represents a valuable first approach to tracking periodic and continuous changes in the microarchitectural characteristics of the tibial epiphysis with collagen-induced RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Keyoung Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Han Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwon-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dae Jun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dohyung
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015519:Bone Density; D002417:Cattle; D024043:Collagen Type II; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004838:Epiphyses; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II