PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Daza, L
AU  - Arroyo, F
AU  - Dozal, J
AU  - Morales, J
TI  - Carpal collapse in rheumatoid arthritis--prevalence and clinical significance: a preliminary study.
DP  - 2001 Sep 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 1975--1978
VI  - 28
IP  - 9
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/9/1975.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/9/1975.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2001 Sep 01; 28
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of carpal collapse in Mexican women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We evaluated the carpal height ratio (CHR) of 97 women with RA and 90 healthy women. Using plain radiographs of both hands, measurements were performed by 2 radiologists in a single blind fashion. We analyzed functional class, characteristics and duration of the disease, and presence of rheumatoid factor (RF). RESULTS: CHR values of the controls were 0.49+/-0.02 (values reported in American Caucasian women are 0.54+/-0.04). Thirty-five patients had carpal collapse (defined as CHR < or = 0.43) in the right hand, 30 in the left hand, and 23 bilaterally. Carpal collapse was associated with RF seropositivity and roentgenographic degree of progression (p < 0.01), as well as with cumulative dose of steroids. As 95% of the patients were right-handed, dexterity was not apparently affected. We observed no differences in Health Assessment Questionnaire, functional class, or disease duration between patients with and those without carpal collapse. CONCLUSION: The definition of carpal collapse may have ethnic related differences. Carpal collapse is common in Mexican women with RA and it is not an indicator of functional limitations.