Nina Renner1,2, Arnd Kleyer1,2, Gerhard Krönke1,2, David Simon1,2, Stefan Söllner1,2, Jürgen Rech1,2, Michael Uder1,2, Rolf Janka1,2, Georg Schett1,2, Goetz H Welsch1,2, Milena L Pachowsky3,4. 1. From the Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, the Department of Internal Medicine 3, and the Department of Radiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU); Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen; UKE Athleticum, University Hospital of Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 2. N. Renner, MD, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; A. Kleyer, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; G. Krönke, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; D. Simon, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; S. Söllner, MD, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; J. Rech, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; M. Uder, MD, Department of Radiology, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; R. Janka, MD, Department of Radiology, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; G. Schett, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; G.H. Welsch, MD, UKE Athleticum, University Hospital of Hamburg-Eppendorf; M.L. Pachowsky, MD, MHBA, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery and Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. 3. From the Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, the Department of Internal Medicine 3, and the Department of Radiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU); Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen; UKE Athleticum, University Hospital of Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. milena.pachowsky@uk-erlangen.de. 4. N. Renner, MD, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; A. Kleyer, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; G. Krönke, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; D. Simon, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; S. Söllner, MD, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; J. Rech, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; M. Uder, MD, Department of Radiology, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; R. Janka, MD, Department of Radiology, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; G. Schett, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen; G.H. Welsch, MD, UKE Athleticum, University Hospital of Hamburg-Eppendorf; M.L. Pachowsky, MD, MHBA, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery and Department of Internal Medicine 3, FAU, and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. milena.pachowsky@uk-erlangen.de.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with damage of the articular cartilage and the periarticular bone. While imaging of bone damage has substantially improved in recent years, direct imaging of the articular cartilage of the hand joints in patients with RA is still challenging. The study used T2 mapping of the finger joints to assess cartilage damage in RA. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 Tesla was done in 30 patients with RA, and T2 relaxation times visualizing alteration in the collagen network and hydration of articular cartilage were mapped in 6 cartilage regions of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints 2 and 3. Values were related to autoantibody status [anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), rheumatoid factor (RF)], disease duration, and disease activity as well as sex and age of the patients. RESULTS: T2 relaxation times could be reliably measured in the 6 regions of the MCP joints. Significantly higher relaxation times indicating more advanced cartilage alterations were observed in the metacarpal heads of ACPA-positive (p = 0.001-0.010) and RF-positive patients (p = 0.013-0.025) as well as those with longer disease duration (> 3 yrs; p = 0.028-0.043). Current disease activity, sex, and age did not influence T2 relaxation times. CONCLUSION: These data show that cartilage damage can be localized and quantified in the hand joints of patients with RA by T2 mapping. Further, ACPA and RF positivity as well as disease duration appear to be the crucial factors influencing cartilage damage.
OBJECTIVE:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with damage of the articular cartilage and the periarticular bone. While imaging of bone damage has substantially improved in recent years, direct imaging of the articular cartilage of the hand joints in patients with RA is still challenging. The study used T2 mapping of the finger joints to assess cartilage damage in RA. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 Tesla was done in 30 patients with RA, and T2 relaxation times visualizing alteration in the collagen network and hydration of articular cartilage were mapped in 6 cartilage regions of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints 2 and 3. Values were related to autoantibody status [anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), rheumatoid factor (RF)], disease duration, and disease activity as well as sex and age of the patients. RESULTS: T2 relaxation times could be reliably measured in the 6 regions of the MCP joints. Significantly higher relaxation times indicating more advanced cartilage alterations were observed in the metacarpal heads of ACPA-positive (p = 0.001-0.010) and RF-positive patients (p = 0.013-0.025) as well as those with longer disease duration (> 3 yrs; p = 0.028-0.043). Current disease activity, sex, and age did not influence T2 relaxation times. CONCLUSION: These data show that cartilage damage can be localized and quantified in the hand joints of patients with RA by T2 mapping. Further, ACPA and RF positivity as well as disease duration appear to be the crucial factors influencing cartilage damage.
Entities:
Keywords:
ANTICITRULLINATED PROTEIN ANTIBODIES; CARTILAGE; MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING; RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS; T2 MAPPING
Authors: Michael L Francavilla; Suraj D Serai; Timothy G Brandon; David M Biko; Dmitry Khrichenko; Jie C Nguyen; Rui Xiao; Nancy A Chauvin; Liya Gendler; Pamela F Weiss Journal: ACR Open Rheumatol Date: 2021-11-10
Authors: Sean C L Deoni; Jonathan O'Muircheartaigh; Emil Ljungberg; Mathew Huentelman; Steven C R Williams Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2022-05-12 Impact factor: 3.737
Authors: Felix Wuennemann; Laurent Kintzelé; Alexander Braun; Felix Zeifang; Michael W Maier; Iris Burkholder; Marc-André Weber; Hans-Ulrich Kauczor; Christoph Rehnitz Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2020-09-01 Impact factor: 4.379