Thanks to medical imaging, debilitating diseases such as arthritis can be detected early and allow physicians to develop action plans sooner rather than later. A recent study showed that subclinical inflammation of non-swollen joints can be identified by MRI, even if there is no direct evidence of progression.
Published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, researchers from the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands wanted to investigate the efficacy of MRI in detecting early arthritis inflammation. Led by Annemarie Krabben, Ph.D., they examined a total of 113 patients with early arthritis using a combination of MRI and diagnostic radiography. The participants underwent exams at the baseline of the study and again one year later as a follow-up.
The MRI results were read by radiologists who utilized the Rheumatoid Arthritis MRI Scoring System to measure synovitis, bone marrow edema and tenosynovitis in the patients. Of the 1,130 total joints, subclinical inflammation was detected in 232 of the 932 non-swollen joints. Radiographic progression was identified in 4 percent of non-swollen joints with early inflammation, compared to 1 percent of those without any signs of swelling.
“On patient level, BME, synovitis and tenosynovitis were associated with radiographic progression, independent of known risk factors,” wrote the authors.
Through their research, the Leiden doctors concluded that the identification of subclinical inflammation increased with the use of MRI. When health care providers aim to bolster their services by upgrading existing PACS systems, the enhanced image quality can give patients with early signs of arthritis a better chance of treating the disease as soon as possible.
The importance of rapid treatment
According to the Arthritis Foundation, there is an early window of opportunity for doctors to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis before the occurrence of irreparable joint damage. Newly diagnosed patients are likely to begin a treatment that includes DMARDs, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Catching it early could even put the disease into remission. However, patients need their physicians to prescribe aggressive regimens. The research from Leiden University indicates that medical imaging can be instrumental in combating the effects of rheumatoid arthritis before joint inflammation interferes with mobility and quality of life.
By taking advantage of the preemptive scans, radiologists can better coordinate care strategies with referring physicians and patients. Updated diagnostic imaging equipment helps ensure improved care quality and clinical outcomes.
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Ronny Bachrach
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