SCORING OF SYNOVIAL-MEMBRANE HYPERTROPHY AND BONE EROSIONS BY MR-IMAGING IN CLINICALLY ACTIVE AND INACTIVE RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS OF THE WRIST

MRI-scores of synovial membrane hypertrophy and bone erosions of the R A-wrist are introduced. Gadolinium-DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance im aging (MRI) and conventional radiography (CR) of the wrist were perfor med in 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 3 healthy contro ls. A MRT-score of synovial membrane hypertrophy was obtained by summa tion of gradings of synovial hypertrophy in 6 regions of the wrist. Th e score was significantly higher in wrists with than in wrists without clinical signs of active arthritis. The score was 0 in all healthy co ntrols. Each bone of the wrist was assessed by MRI and CR with respect to bone erosions. Bone erosions were detected by MRI in 14 wrists in contrast to only 6 wrists by CR. In all patients the erosions were mor e numerous on MRI. The introduced methods may be useful quantitative m easures of synovitis and early joint destruction in RA.