Bone marrow oedema predicts structural progression in a 1-year follow-up of 85 patients with RA in remission or with low disease activity with low-field MRI. Issue 12 (22nd August 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gandjbakhch, F; Foltz, V; Mallet, A; Bourgeois, P; Fautrel, B
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 70:Issue 12(2011)
• Page Start: 2159
• Page End: 2162
• Publication Date: 2011-08-22
• Subjects: Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2010.149377
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To identify the predictive factors of MRI-determined structural progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in remission or with low disease activity (LDA). Methods: In this 1-year longitudinal study, patients with RA in clinical remission (disease activity score (DAS) 44≤1.6) or with LDA (1.6<DAS 44≤2.4) underwent low-field MRI of the dominant hand at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. MRI images were scored by the rheumatoid arthritis MRI system (RAMRIS) by rheumatologists blind to clinical and biological data. Structural progression was defined as a change in the RAMRISerosion score between baseline and 1 year greater than the smallest detectable difference. Predictive factors of structural disease progression were analysed by logistic and linear regression. Results: 85 patients with RA in remission (n=47) or with LDA (n=38) were included. Their mean age was 50±13 years, 81% were female, mean disease duration was 35±20 months, rheumatoid factor (RF)/anti-CCP positivity was 63%/64% and 77% had radiographic erosion. At baseline most patients showed inflammatory activity on MRI: 87% had at least one synovitis and 23% at least one location of bone marrow oedema (BME). BME at baseline was predictive of change in RAMRISerosion (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.43, p=0.0013, area under the curve=0.78). Conclusion: BME is a predictive factor of MRI-determined structural progression in patients with RA in clinical remission or with LDA.