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Synovial membrane enhancement and bone erosion by magnetic resonance imaging for prediction of radiologic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic factors related to radiographic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (less than 1 year after onset) undergoing enhanced MRI at entry.

Methods

Demographic characteristics, disease duration, and enhanced MRI of the dominant wrists were recorded at entry. Duration of morning stiffness, number of swollen joints, serum rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and radiographs of hands and feet (Sharp/van der Heijde score) were assessed at each follow-up. Outcome was defined as damage seen on radiography.

Results

One hundred fourteen patients were followed up for 10 years. Logistic regression analysis showed that high MRI score, CRP, and RF positivity were associated with radiologic progression. The MRI score at baseline was a better predictor than CRP level and RF positivity at entry.

Conclusion

The assessment of synovial membrane enhancement and bone erosion by MRI of the wrist in early RA is very helpful to predict erosive outcome.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of the radiologist Dr. Mitsuharu Tamagawa in the Department of Radiology of Sapporo Medical University. We thank Tokinari Hara (head X-ray technician of Sapporo Gorinbashi Orthopedic Hospital) for his assistance in examination of a large number of patients by radiography and MRI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology Unit, Sapporo Gorinbashi Orthopedic Hospital in Gorinbashi Hospitals, 2–1 Kawazoe, Minami-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005–0802, Japan

    Nobuyuki Tanaka, Hisashi Sakahashi, Eiichi Sato, Kazuya Hirose & Takumi Ishima

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan

    Seiichi Ishii

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  1. Nobuyuki Tanaka
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  2. Hisashi Sakahashi
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  3. Seiichi Ishii
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  4. Eiichi Sato
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  5. Kazuya Hirose
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  6. Takumi Ishima
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Correspondence to Nobuyuki Tanaka.

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Tanaka, N., Sakahashi, H., Ishii, S. et al. Synovial membrane enhancement and bone erosion by magnetic resonance imaging for prediction of radiologic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int 25, 103–107 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0404-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0404-2

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