RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 T2 Mapping as a New Method for Quantitative Assessment of Cartilage Damage in RA
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP jrheum.180728
DO 10.3899/jrheum.180728
A1 Nina Renner
A1 Arnd Kleyer
A1 Gerhard Krönke
A1 David Simon
A1 Stefan Söllner
A1 Jürgen Rech
A1 Michael Uder
A1 Rolf Janka
A1 Georg Schett
A1 Goetz H.  Welsch
A1 Milena L.  Pachowsky
YR 2019
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2019/08/08/jrheum.180728.abstract
AB 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 the last years, direct imaging of the articular cartilage of the hand joints in patients with RA is still challenging. Methods 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was done in 30 RA patients and T2 relaxation times visualizing alteration in the collagen network and hydration of articular cartilage were mapped in six cartilage regions of the metacarpophalangeal joints 2 and 3. Values were related to autoantibody (anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA), rheumatoid factor (RF)) status, disease duration, disease activity as well as sex and age of the RA patients. Results T2 relaxation times could be reliably measured in the six regions of the metacarpophalangeal joints. Significantly higher relaxation times indicating more advanced cartilage alterations were observed in 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 years; 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 RA patients by T2 mapping. Furthermore, ACPA and RF positivity as well as disease duration appear to be the crucial factors influencing cartilage damage.