OBJECTIVE: To compare a low field dedicated extremity magnetic resonance imaging system (E-MRI) with x ray and clinical examination, in the detection of inflammation and erosive lesions in wrist and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints in newly diagnosed, untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty five patients (disease duration < or =1 year) and three healthy controls entered the study. An x ray examination and MRI (before and after intravenous injection of a contrast agent) of the 2nd-5th MCP joints and the wrist was performed. The number of erosions on x ray examination and MRI was calculated, and synovitis in the MCP joints and wrists was graded semiquantitatively. RESULTS: E-MRI detected 57 bone erosions, whereas only six erosions were disclosed by x ray examination (ratio 9.5:1). Synovial hypertrophy grades were significantly higher in RA joints with clinical signs of joint inflammation-that is, swelling and/or tenderness (median 3, 5th-95th centile 1-4) than without these clinical signs (median 2, 5th-95th centile 1-3), p < 0.001. 51% of the joints without clinical signs of synovitis showed synovial hypertrophy on E-MRI. There was a positive correlation between MRI scores of synovitis and the number of erosions detected by MRI in the MCP joints (Spearman r(s) = 0.31, p < 0.01). No healthy controls had erosions or synovitis on MRI. CONCLUSION: Joint destruction starts very early in RA and E-MRI allows detailed evaluation of inflammatory and destructive changes in wrists and MCP joints in patients with incipient RA.
OBJECTIVE: To compare a low field dedicated extremity magnetic resonance imaging system (E-MRI) with x ray and clinical examination, in the detection of inflammation and erosive lesions in wrist and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints in newly diagnosed, untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty five patients (disease duration < or =1 year) and three healthy controls entered the study. An x ray examination and MRI (before and after intravenous injection of a contrast agent) of the 2nd-5th MCP joints and the wrist was performed. The number of erosions on x ray examination and MRI was calculated, and synovitis in the MCP joints and wrists was graded semiquantitatively. RESULTS: E-MRI detected 57 bone erosions, whereas only six erosions were disclosed by x ray examination (ratio 9.5:1). Synovial hypertrophy grades were significantly higher in RA joints with clinical signs of joint inflammation-that is, swelling and/or tenderness (median 3, 5th-95th centile 1-4) than without these clinical signs (median 2, 5th-95th centile 1-3), p < 0.001. 51% of the joints without clinical signs of synovitis showed synovial hypertrophy on E-MRI. There was a positive correlation between MRI scores of synovitis and the number of erosions detected by MRI in the MCP joints (Spearman r(s) = 0.31, p < 0.01). No healthy controls had erosions or synovitis on MRI. CONCLUSION: Joint destruction starts very early in RA and E-MRI allows detailed evaluation of inflammatory and destructive changes in wrists and MCP joints in patients with incipient RA.
Authors: M Ostergaard; P Gideon; K Sørensen; M Hansen; M Stoltenberg; O Henriksen; I Lorenzen Journal: Scand J Rheumatol Date: 1995 Impact factor: 3.641
Authors: M Østergaard; J Edmonds; F McQueen; C Peterfy; M Lassere; B Ejbjerg; P Bird; P Emery; H Genant; P Conaghan Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: G Peluso; S L Bosello; E Gremese; L Mirone; F Di Gregorio; V Di Molfetta; T Pirronti; G Ferraccioli Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2015-04-23 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: Debbie M Boeters; Wouter P Nieuwenhuis; Hanna W van Steenbergen; Monique Reijnierse; Robert B M Landewé; Annette H M van der Helm-van Mil Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2018-02-28 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Márcio Navalho; Catarina Resende; Ana Maria Rodrigues; Augusto Gaspar; João Eurico Fonseca; Helena Canhão; Jorge Campos Journal: Skeletal Radiol Date: 2011-02-12 Impact factor: 2.199
Authors: A J Grainger; J M Farrant; P J O'Connor; A L Tan; S Tanner; P Emery; D McGonagle Journal: Skeletal Radiol Date: 2007-05-12 Impact factor: 2.199