PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF CONTRAST-ENHANCED GD-DTPA MRI FOR DEVELOPMENT OF BONE EROSIVE CHANGES IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Conventional radiograms have been used to quantitate the progression o f rheumatoid arthritis, mainly through the assessment of bone erosions , but this approach has many limitations. It has been suggested that a n advantage of contrast-enhanced Gd-DTPA MRI over radiography may be i ts prognostic value due to its ability to show the natural history of active destructive to inactive fibrous pannus. The aim of this study w as to evaluate the possible prognostic value of MRI for future develop ment of bone erosive changes in small hand joints in patients with RA. The results of the study confirm that in joints in which inflammatory active pannus is shown by contrast-enhanced MRI, progression of bone- destructive changes can be expected.