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Atlantoepistrophic magnetic resonance imaging involvement in early rheumatoid arthritis: An aggressive tight control therapy not fully arresting the disease
Author(s) -
Zoli Angelo,
Bosello Silvia,
Magarelli Nicola,
D'Antona Graziella,
Amelia Rosanna,
Fedele Annalaura,
Peluso Giusy,
Bonomo Lorenzo,
Ferraccioli Gianfranco
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
arthritis care and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.032
H-Index - 163
eISSN - 2151-4658
pISSN - 2151-464X
DOI - 10.1002/acr.20573
Subject(s) - medicine , pannus , synovitis , magnetic resonance imaging , rheumatoid arthritis , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , radiology , cervical spine , surgery
Objective Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory disorder affecting the cervical spine. The purpose of this study was to characterize the atloaxial involvement with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with early RA at the moment of diagnosis and after 18 months of a tight control therapy. Methods Twenty consecutive patients with early RA without cervical symptoms and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. The patients underwent unenhanced and enhanced gadolinium MRI study of the upper cervical spine at diagnosis and after 18 months of therapy. The presence of pannus tissue at MRI was considered active synovitis. Results Five (25%) of the 20 patients presented craniocervical involvement with active synovitis at MRI. At onset, patients with cervical involvement presented higher levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, a higher swollen joint count, and a higher Disease Activity Score in 44 joints level. All 5 patients (100%) with cervical involvement presented already peripheral erosions. After 18 months, 1 of 5 patients with atloepistrophic synovial involvement at baseline presented complete regression of the enhancement of synovial periodontoid process, and 1 presented a decrease of this enhancement. None of the patients developed erosive process at the odontoid. The only patient with complete regression of the enhancement presented a very early disease (<3 months). Conclusion Our study demonstrates involvement of the atloaxial junction in 25% of early RA patients, in particular in patients with active and erosive arthritis. An early diagnosis and aggressive treatment with a combination therapy, aiming for remission, does not always reduce atlantoaxial synovitis.