title: The prevalence of tenosynovitis of the interosseous tendons of the hand in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of tenosynovitis affecting the interosseous tendons of the hand in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) population and to assess for association with metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint synovitis, flexor tendon tenosynovitis or ulnar drift.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients with RA underwent hand MRI along with 20 normal controls. Coronal 3D T1 VIBE sequences pre- and post-contrast were performed and reconstructed. The presence of interosseous tendon tenosynovitis was recorded alongside MCP joint synovitis, flexor tendon tenosynovitis and ulnar drift.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one (47.7%) patients with RA showed interosseous tendon tenosynovitis. Fifty-two (14.8%) interosseous tendons showed tenosynovitis amongst the RA patients. Interosseous tendon tenosynovitis was more commonly seen in association with adjacent MCP joint synovitis (p < 0.001), but nine MCP joints (5.1%) showed adjacent interosseous tenosynovitis in the absence of joint synovitis. Interosseous tendon tenosynovitis was more frequently seen in fingers which also showed flexor tendon tenosynovitis (p < 0.001) and in patients with ulnar drift of the fingers (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tenosynovitis of the hand interosseous tendons was found in 47.7% of patients with RA. In the majority of cases this was adjacent to MCP joint synovitis; however, interosseous tendon tenosynovitis was also seen in isolation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Tenosynovitis of the interosseous tendons of the hand occurs in rheumatoid arthritis. • Interosseous tendon tenosynovitis has a prevalence of 47.7% in patients with RA. • Interosseous tendon tenosynovitis is related to MCP joint synovitis in the adjacent joints.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Radiology Department, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK. emmarowbotham@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Rowbotham
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Freeston
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK, Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, LTHT Leeds Institute of Rheumatic Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Radiology Department, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.|NIHR Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Grainger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology*; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Inflammation; Interosseous tendons; Magnetic resonance imaging; Rheumatoid arthritis; Synovitis