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Arthritis Research & Therapy
Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy 3/2011

Open Access 01-06-2011 | Research article

The usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging of the hand and wrist in very early rheumatoid arthritis

Authors: Paraskevi E Kosta, Paraskevi V Voulgari, Anastasia K Zikou, Alexandros A Drosos, Maria I Argyropoulou

Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy | Issue 3/2011

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Abstract

Introduction

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to study the hand and wrist in very early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the results were compared with early and established disease.

Methods

Fifty-seven patients fulfilling the new American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA, 26 with very early RA (VERA), 18 with early RA (ERA), and 13 with established RA (ESTRA), (disease duration < 3 months, < 12 months, and > 12 months, respectively) were enrolled in the study. MRI of the dominant hand and wrist was performed by using fat-suppressed T2-weighted and plain and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences. Evaluation of bone marrow edema, synovitis, and bone erosions was performed with the OMERACT RA MRI scoring system.

Results

Edema, erosions, and synovitis were present in VERA, and the prevalence was 100%, 96.15%, and 92.3%, respectively. Significant differences in edema and erosions were found between VERA and ESTRA (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in synovitis.

Conclusions

Edema, erosions, and synovitis are findings of very early RA. MRI, by detecting these lesions, may play an important role in the management of these patients.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging of the hand and wrist in very early rheumatoid arthritis
Authors
Paraskevi E Kosta
Paraskevi V Voulgari
Anastasia K Zikou
Alexandros A Drosos
Maria I Argyropoulou
Publication date
01-06-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Arthritis Research & Therapy / Issue 3/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1478-6362
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/ar3355

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