PREDICTION OF PROGRESSION OF RADIOLOGIC DAMAGE IN NEWLY-DIAGNOSED RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Objective, To investigate the extent to which early radiologic damage is predicted by joint inflammation in patients with newly diagnosed rh eumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Regression analysis was performed on 1-year progression of total radiologic damage for baseline characteri stics and cumulative disease activity measures, and the effects of con tinued joint inflammation on the progression of damage in separate joi nt groups were investigated. Results, Odds ratios for progression of t otal damage were 12 for the presence of rheumatoid factor, 5 for the p resence of damage at baseline, and 2 for cumnulative joint inflammatio n. A positive association between continued joint inflammation and pro gression of damage was found to be statistically significant for most joint groups, Conclusion. Progression of radiologic damage in patients with newly diagnosed RA is independently associated with the presence of rheumatoid factor and damage at baseline and with cumulative joint inflammation.