title: Anatomic-functional (perfusion-based) magnetic resonance imaging follow-up in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-interleukin 6 antibodies: a comparison with clinical scores and serologic data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  On a 3-T magnetic resonance scanner, morphologic and perfusion changes of 9 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were evaluated after start of anti-interleukin 6 receptor antibody Tocilizumab (TCZ) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphologic and perfusion-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters were assessed before and 4, 12, and 24 after the start of TCZ treatment. Furthermore, serologic biomarkers and clinical assessment scores were evaluated 4, 12, 24, and 52 weeks after treatment initiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of MRI parameters showed significant group differences between responders and nonresponders for synovial volume, transfer constant, and blood plasma volume fraction already at week 12 as well as relative enhancement and rate of early enhancement at week 24.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the temporal change of perfusion-derived MRI parameters (transfer constant, blood plasma volume fraction, relative enhancement, and rate of early enhancement) as well as morphologic MRI parameters (synovial volume measurements), a quantifiable assessment of response to TCZ therapy in rheumatoid arthritis seems possible at an even earlier time point compared with clinical assessment scores, whereas serologic biomarkers proved nonspecific in this respect.
authors.affiliation: From the *Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, and †Section on Experimental Radiology, University Hospital Tuebingen; and ‡Department of Medical Oncology, Hematology and Rheumatology, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grosse
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henes
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grözinger
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kötter
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martirosian
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eibofner
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horger
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; C502936:tocilizumab