J Korean Radiol Soc.  1997 Mar;36(3):509-515.

Volumetric measurement of the inflamed synovium of rheumatoid wrist joint for the evaluation of synovitis and remission

• Huh YM
• Suh JS
• Jeong EK
• Lee SK
• Lee JS
• Choi BW

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the changes and remission of disease activity with changes in inflamed synivial volumes of rheumatoid joints after therapy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Seven rheumatoid arthritis patients who had been treated with antiinflammatory drugs were followed up. Using NIH imaging and a segmentation technique, pre- and post-enhanced images were measured in subtracted images. Intra- and interobserver variation were evaluated by two radiologists(A and B), using two independent measurements. For comparison, the cases were assigned to one of two groups : remission and non-remission. Changes in ESR and total joint counts(TJC) after therapy were compared with inflamed synovial volumes.
RESULTS
Intraobserver variations were 3.2% and 2.7% in A and B, respectively, interobserver variation between A and B was 7.1%. Changes in inflamed synovial volumes correlated well with those in ESR (r=0.88, p<0.009) and TJC (r=0.78, p<0.037) after therapy. Changes between the remission and non-remission group were insignificant, however.
CONCLUSION
Changes in inflamed synovial volumes reflect those in the activity of rheumatoid arthritis between pre- and post- treatment. This technique may be used as a tool for predicting therapeutic response in rheumatoid arthritis cases. Changes in inflamed synovial volumes are of limited value, however, in predicting the remission of rheumatoid arthritis after therapy.

Keyword

Arthritis, rheumatoid; Joints, MR; Wrist, MR; Wrist, Arthritis

MeSH Terms

Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Humans
Joints
Observer Variation
Synovial Membrane*
Synovitis*
Wrist Joint*
Wrist*