Osteitis and synovitis, but not bone erosion, is associated with proteoglycan loss and microstructure damage in the cartilage of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Herz B, Albrecht A, Englbrecht M, Welsch G, Uder M, Renner N, Schlechtweg P, Paul D, Lauer L, Engelke K, Janka RM, Rech J, Schett G, Finzel S (2014)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases BMJ Publishing Group

Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group

Book Volume: 73

Pages Range: 1101-6

Journal Issue: 6

DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-202850

Abstract

To investigate the relation between anatomic changes of the synovium, the bone, the bone marrow and the cartilage to biochemical properties of the cartilage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).33 patients with RA received 3-T MRI scans of the metacarpophalangeal joints. Two independent methods, (A) the delayed gadolinium enhanced MRI of the cartilage (dGEMRIC, T2-mapping), which was used to assess the biochemical properties of the cartilage; (B) synovitis, osteitis and bone erosions were quantified according to the RA MRI scoring (RAMRIS) method and cartilage thickness (CT), interbone joint space (IBJS, distance between proximal and distal bone surface) and intercartilage joint space (ICJS, distance between proximal and distal cartilage surface) were measured.Biochemical changes of the cartilage, corresponding to low dGEMRIC and high T2 values, were more likely to be seen in joints with decreased IBJS and ICJS as well as decreased CT. For instance, dGEMRIC was directly correlated to the IBJS (p=0.001) and ICJS (p=0.001), whereas T2 mapping was inversely correlated to IBJS and ICJS (both p=0.017). Moreover, the degree of osteitis, and to some extent synovitis, was correlated to biochemical cartilage changes as measured by dGEMRIC (p=0.003) or the T2 mapping (p=0.013). By contrast, bone erosions did not correlate to the degree of biochemical cartilage changes.These data support the concept that synovitis and osteitis may be two main triggers for cartilage damage. Thus, the actual inflammatory state of a joint, but not so much the degree of bone erosion, appears to influence cartilage properties in RA.

Authors with CRIS profile

Barbara Herz Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin III Andreas Albrecht Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin III Matthias Englbrecht Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin III Michael Uder Lehrstuhl für Diagnostische Radiologie Nina Renner Professur für Unfallchirurgie Philipp Schlechtweg Institute of Radiology Klaus Engelke Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Physik und Mikrogewebetechnik Rolf Matthias Janka Institute of Radiology Georg Schett Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin III Stephanie Finzel Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin III

Involved external institutions

Siemens AG, Healthcare Sector DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Herz, B., Albrecht, A., Englbrecht, M., Welsch, G., Uder, M., Renner, N.,... Finzel, S. (2014). Osteitis and synovitis, but not bone erosion, is associated with proteoglycan loss and microstructure damage in the cartilage of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 73(6), 1101-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-202850

MLA:

Herz, Barbara, et al. "Osteitis and synovitis, but not bone erosion, is associated with proteoglycan loss and microstructure damage in the cartilage of patients with rheumatoid arthritis." Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 73.6 (2014): 1101-6.

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