PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Philipp Sewerin
AU  - Christoph Schleich
AU  - Ralph Brinks
AU  - Anja Müller-Lutz
AU  - Florian Fichter
AU  - Markus Eichner
AU  - Matthias Schneider
AU  - Benedikt Ostendorf
AU  - Stefan Vordenbäumen
TI  - Assessing Associations of Synovial Perfusion, Cartilage Quality, and Outcome in Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.180832
DP  - 2019 Mar 15
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - jrheum.180832
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2019/07/10/jrheum.180832.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2019/07/10/jrheum.180832.full
AB  - 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.