Imaging News

Age, BMI and disease activity were risk factors that kept patients with rheumatoid arthritis from being physically active, while glucocorticoid therapy did not independently contribute to the inactivity, according to study results.

While researchers determined that low-field MRI appeared to be more sensitive than ultrasound in detecting erosions, the limited studies comparing their diagnostic and prognostic value in rheumatology did not allow for any firm conclusions on preferred technique, according to systematic review results.

MRI effectively predicted cartilage damage, including osteitis- and synovitis-influenced thinning, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis at 3 years, according recent study results.

Almost 50% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in clinical remission had active synovitis as determined through ultrasound and higher disease activity compared with patients without active synovitis, according to recent study results.

Methotrexate therapy reversed a high receptor activator of the Nf-kB ligand and osteoprotegerin ratio, a characteristic in the synovial membrane of early untreated rheumatoid arthritis patients, according to recent study results.

SAN DIEGO — Patients with ankylosing spondylitis who smoked had a 5.5-fold effect of disease activity on radiographic damage, which more than doubled in male smokers compared with nonsmoking females, according to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting.

Lumbar bursitis was a likely cause of low back pain reported by patients with polymyalgia rheumatica, according to study results.

Treatment protocol, including radiologic imaging, and knowledge about blast injuries similar to those sustained by victims at the Boston Marathon bombing can benefit rheumatologists or other specialists who may have to serve as first responders, a recent report states.

Changes in rheumatoid arthritis patients’ bone structure assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitiative computed tomography also showed altered biomarkers of bone resorption and bone formation, according to recent study results.

Rheumatoid arthritis had a negative impact on the health-related quality of life and was a significant financial burden on patients with the disease, according to study results.