MRI can detect early stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Currently the most common form of imaging used for the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis is radiography (X-rays). However, in a recent study which examined the effectiveness of the immunosuppressant golimumab in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the research team used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor the progress and improvement of the patients while on this drug. They saw that the MRI images allowed them to measure inflammatory lesions (ie. synovitis) and erosions, which they would not have been able to do with X-ray images. Most importantly, the MRI images were able to show pre-erosive changes, that occur before irreversible joint damage occurs. Other studies have also shown that MRI's provide a much more accurate assessment of RA.

Radiography is still being used most frequently however, mostly because it is cheaper and easily reproducible. Also because it makes serial comparison much easier for disease assessment. MRI is much more expensive but it is currently being developed as a treatment tool since it has the crucial ability to detect the disease early, at a stage at which disease-modifying drugs can be used. This is therefore an important tool in potentially the treatment of RA, and also in research of new drugs that may target the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, before irreparable joint damage occurs.

• Conaghan, PG, P.Emery, M. Ostergaard, EC Keystone, MC Genovese, EC Hsia, W. Xu, and MU Rahman. "Assessment by MRY of Inflammation and damage in rheumatoid arthritis patients with methotrexate inadequate response receiving golimumab: Results of the GO-FORWARD trial." Ann Rheum Dis 11 (2011): 1968-74. Print.
• http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/mri/content/article/113619/1976582
• http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/401271-overview