%0 Journal Article %A Philipp Sewerin %A Christoph Schleich %A Ralph Brinks %A Anja Müller-Lutz %A Florian Fichter %A Markus Eichner %A Matthias Schneider %A Benedikt Ostendorf %A Stefan Vordenbäumen %T Assessing Associations of Synovial Perfusion, Cartilage Quality, and Outcome in Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging %D 2019 %R 10.3899/jrheum.180832 %J The Journal of Rheumatology %P jrheum.180832 %X Objective To assess associations of synovial perfusion, cartilage quality, and outcome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Synovial perfusion and cartilage quality were assessed by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in metacarpophalangeal joints of 28 treatment-naive patients with RA at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after methotrexate. Analysis was by linear mixed modeling. Results Synovial perfusion variables were associated with remission (p < 0.05) and cartilage quality (p < 0.004). Maximum synovial enhancement was associated to European League Against Rheumatism response (p < 0.05). Synovial perfusion improved in nonresponders over time (p < 0.05). Conclusion Synovial perfusion relates to remission, response, and cartilage quality in a cohort of therapy-naive patients with early RA. %U https://www.jrheum.org/content/jrheum/early/2019/07/10/jrheum.180832.full.pdf