Ann Rheum Dis 2001;60:924-927 ( October )

Extended report

Predictors of radiographic joint damage in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis L M A Jansen^a, I E van der Horst-Bruinsma^b, D van Schaardenburg^{a b}, P D Bezemer^c, B A C Dijkmans^b

^a Jan van Breemen Instituut, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, ^b Department of Rheumatology, VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, ^c Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence to: Professor B A C Dijkmans, Department of Rheumatology, Free University Hospital, Room B417, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands jansen_annemarie{at}hotmail.com

Accepted for publication 27 February 2001

OBJECTIVETo determine factors at diagnosis, associated with radiographic damage at diagnosis and after one year, in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
METHODSNew patients with early RA were followed up for one year. Possible prognostic factors were duration of complaints, morning stiffness, disease activity score (DAS28), functional status (Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score), rheumatoid factor (IgM RF), and C reactive protein (CRP). Outcome was defined as radiographic damage of the hands and feet (Sharp/van der Heijde score). For the statistical analysis, one way analysis of variance and a forward stepwise logistic regression model was used.
RESULTS130 patients with RA (68% female; median age 64 years, range 21-86) were included. Despite the fact that the median duration of complaints was short (15 weeks, range 2-106) the radiographic damage at diagnosis was significantly correlated with the duration of complaints (p<0.05). Patients with a duration of complaints of >34 weeks had significantly more radiographic joint damage at diagnosis than patients with a shorter duration of complaints. Radiographic progression at one year was correlated with high radiographic joint damage, high CRP level, and a positive IgM RF at entry.
CONCLUSIONSIn early RA, the number of radiographic lesions was correlated with a longer duration of complaints at the first visit. Progression of these lesions was predicted by a high baseline joint damage, high CRP level, and a positive IgM RF. Further reduction of the delay in referral and early treatment may further decrease joint damage in patients with recent onset polyarthritis.

---

© 2001 by Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• MORVAN, J., BERTHELOT, J.-M., DEVAUCHELLE-PENSEC, V., JOUSSE-JOULIN, S., LE HENAFF-BOURHIS, C., HOANG, S., THOREL, J.-B., MARTIN, A., YOUINOU, P., SARAUX, A. (2009). Changes Over Time in the Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis in a 10-year Cohort. The Journal of Rheumatology 36: 2428-2434 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• CROWSON, C. S., RAHMAN, M. U., MATTESON, E. L. (2009). Which Measure of Inflammation to Use? A Comparison of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and C-Reactive Protein Measurements from Randomized Clinical Trials of Golimumab in Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Journal of Rheumatology 36: 1606-1610 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• RENESES, S., GONZALEZ-ESCRIBANO, M. F., FERNANDEZ-SUAREZ, A., PESTANA, L., DAVILA, B., WICHMANN, I., GARCIA, A. (2009). The Value of HLA-DRB1 Shared Epitope, -308 Tumor Necrosis Factor-{alpha} Gene Promoter Polymorphism, Rheumatoid Factor, Anti-Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies, and Early Erosions for Predicting Radiological Outcome in Recent-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Journal of Rheumatology 36: 1143-1149 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Emery, P., McInnes, I. B., van Vollenhoven, R., Kraan, M. C. (2008). Clinical identification and treatment of a rapidly progressing disease state in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 47: 392-398 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• de Vries-Bouwstra, J K, Goekoop-Ruiterman, Y P M, Wesoly, J, Hulsmans, H J, de Craen, A J M, Breedveld, F C, Dijkmans, B A C, Allaart, C F, Huizinga, T W J (2007). Ex vivo interleukin 1 receptor antagonist production on lipopolysaccharide stimulation is associated with rheumatoid arthritis and with joint damage. Ann Rheum Dis 66: 1033-1037 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hammer, H. B., Odegard, S., Fagerhol, M. K, Landewe, R., Heijde, D. v. d., Uhlig, T., Mowinckel, P., Kvien, T. K (2007). Calprotectin (a major leucocyte protein) is strongly and independently correlated with joint inflammation and damage in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 66: 1093-1097 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Nishimura, K., Sugiyama, D., Kogata, Y., Tsuji, G., Nakazawa, T., Kawano, S., Saigo, K., Morinobu, A., Koshiba, M., Kuntz, K. M., Kamae, I., Kumagai, S. (2007). Meta-analysis: Diagnostic Accuracy of Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody and Rheumatoid Factor for Rheumatoid Arthritis. ANN INTERN MED 146: 797-808 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Combe, B, Landewe, R, Lukas, C, Bolosiu, H D, Breedveld, F, Dougados, M, Emery, P, Ferraccioli, G, Hazes, J M W, Klareskog, L, Machold, K, Martin-Mola, E, Nielsen, H, Silman, A, Smolen, J, Yazici, H (2007). EULAR recommendations for the management of early arthritis: report of a task force of the European Standing Committee for International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutics (ESCISIT). Ann Rheum Dis 66: 34-45 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Spiritus, T, Verschueren, P, Westhovens, R, Bossuyt, X (2004). Diagnostic characteristics of a gelatin based Waaler-Rose assay (Serodia-RA) for the detection of rheumatoid factor. Ann Rheum Dis 63: 1169-1171 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Capell, H A, Madhok, R, Hunter, J A, Porter, D, Morrison, E, Larkin, J, Thomson, E A, Hampson, R, Poon, F W (2004). Lack of radiological and clinical benefit over two years of low dose prednisolone for rheumatoid arthritis: results of a randomised controlled trial. Ann Rheum Dis 63: 797-803 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sanmarti, R., Gomez, A., Ercilla, G., Gratacos, J., Larrosa, M., Suris, X., Vinas, O., Salvador, G., Munoz-Gomez, J., Canete, J. D. (2003). Radiological progression in early rheumatoid arthritis after DMARDS: a one-year follow-up study in a clinical setting. Rheumatology (Oxford) 42: 1044-1049 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Vittecoq, O., Pouplin, S., Krzanowska, K., Jouen-Beades, F., Menard, J. F., Gayet, A., Daragon, A., Tron, F., Le Loet, X. (2003). Rheumatoid factor is the strongest predictor of radiological progression of rheumatoid arthritis in a three-year prospective study in community-recruited patients. Rheumatology (Oxford) 42: 939-946 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Skogh, T, Gustafsson, D, Kjellberg, M, Husberg, M (2003). Twenty eight joint count disease activity score in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis using C reactive protein instead of erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Ann Rheum Dis 62: 681-682 [Full Text]  
• Berglin, E., Lorentzon, R., Nordmark, L., Nilsson-Sojka, B., Rantapaa Dahlqvist, S. (2003). Predictors of radiological progression and changes in hand bone density in early rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 42: 268-275 [Abstract] [Full Text]