Carpal collapse in rheumatoid arthritis--prevalence and clinical significance: a preliminary study

J Rheumatol. 2001 Sep;28(9):1975-8.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / diagnostic imaging*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / epidemiology*
  • Carpal Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Carpal Bones / physiopathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Joint Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Probability
  • ROC Curve
  • Radiography
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Reference Values
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Wrist Joint / diagnostic imaging*
  • Wrist Joint / physiopathology*