OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is in most instances a progressive disease. Very little information is available on halting of the radiographic damage, particularly in later phases of the disease. We studied radiographic remission of RA lasting to the end of follow-up, covering the period 1973-96. METHODS: Radiographs of hands and feet were taken at onset and at 1, 3, 8, 15 and 20 years from entry in 102 cases of recent onset (< 6 months) seropositive and erosive RA. A Larsen score of 0-100 was formed for 20 joints of hands and feet. If the score did not worsen by more than one point between one of the above time points and the end of the study, the patient was considered to be in remission. RESULTS: Remission was confirmed in 27 (26%) of the patients. In 3 cases the remission was from the 1-year check-up, in 5 from the 3-year check-up, in 6 from the 8-year check-up and in 13 cases from the 15-year check-up. Some of the remission cases had a mild disease from the outset, but there were cases in which the disease process had led to marked joint destruction before slowing down. CONCLUSION: This data may serve as a basis for comparison with subsequent cohort studies on new treatments-of-choice.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Low-field MRI in the evaluation of rheumatoid cervical spine. Comparison with neurological findings and routine plain radiography.

The usefulness of a low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) instrument in the evaluation of cervical spine abnormalities was studied in 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and known anterior atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) (16 patients) or other cervical spine abnormalities (4 patients). The MRI results were compared with routine plain radiographs and with neurological findings. Three patients had a clinical suspicion of cervical spinal cord compression. This was confirmed by MRI, which additionally detected one more patient with compressive myelopathy. Anterior AAS in MR images was seen in 4 patients, but proper flexion images were not obtained. Atlantoaxial impaction was detected by a recent method of Sakaguchi-Kauppi in 16 patients as compared to 9 patients by the McGregor method and 4 patients by MRI. Most of the clinically important consequences of rheumatoid cervical spine are seen with a low-field MR imager, but detailed bony changes and precise measurements are better evaluated with plain X-rays.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Activity of arthritis.

Factor analysis was used in clarifying the picture of joint inflammation. 376 arthritis patients were examined at the onset of the disease and after three years. The six factors produced are interpreted to represent six components of joint inflammation, namely the anaemic factor, the factors of clinical joint inflammation gammaglobulin activity, complement activity and acute phase, and the factor of alfa-beta globulin activity. The factor structure remained quite similar during the follow-up. This would indicate that there are certain basic aspects of inflammation which remain fairly stable from year to year.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Is seropositive rheumatoid arthritis becoming less severe?

We have followed a community-based cohort of recent-onset arthritis for eight years. In addition to Waaler-Rose and latex agglutination tests we used class-specific enzyme immunoassay for the determination of rheumatoid factors (RFs). Eighty-seven patients had erosions by the end of the follow-up period. The seropositive cases in each RF assay were divided into three groups of equal size according to the mean strength of RF reactivity for three or four available follow-up specimens. The radiological index values in the high-titer groups were no higher than the values for the seropositive cases on average. Thus, no severity gradient according to RF titer could be demonstrated.

Agglutination Tests↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Yersinia antibodies in inflammatory joint diseases.

The occurrence of IgM, IgG and IgA class Yersinia antibodies was studied at the beginning of an inflammatory joint disease and one year later in 354 adult patients using an ELISA technique. The control groups consisted of age and sex matched healthy persons living in the same geographical area as the patients, and of 64 patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Yersinia antibodies of any Ig class were found in 9.0% of all the patients at the beginning of the disease, in 4.0% of the healthy controls and in 1.6% of the patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's disease or other reactive arthritis showed the highest prevalence (19.4%) of Yersinia antibodies, but in the whole material one half of the patients with Yersinia antibodies were clinically classified as rheumatoid or nonspecific arthritis. The elevated prevalence of Yersinia antibodies in patients with probable rheumatoid or nonspecific arthritis may indicate a reactive etiopathogenesis of arthritis also in some cases without previous evidence of gastrointestinal infection. Quantitation of IgG and IgA antibodies to Yersinia is important in the diagnosis of Yersinia arthritis. These antibodies may not be detected by the generally used agglutination test.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The prediction of radiological destruction during the early stage of rheumatoid arthritis.

A total of 107 patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis of no longer than six months' duration were observed for three years. The radiological destruction of the hand and foot joints after the follow-up time was compared with 65 anamnestic, clinical, laboratory and radiological variables at the onset of the disease. Of the individual variables, early radiological changes in the joints showed the best correlation with the progress of joint destruction. Grip strength, ESR, serum iron, serum C1 esterase inhibitor, rheumatoid factor and old age also had prognostic value. In multiple regression analysis 15 variables explained about 50% of the variance in the progress of joint destruction.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Shortening of life span and causes of excess mortality in a population-based series of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To obtain information on the shortening of the life span and the causes of excess death in a population-based series of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The study included all 1666 subjects who had died in Finland in 1989 and were entitled under the nationwide sickness insurance scheme to receive specially reimbursed medication for RA. Demographic data on the Finnish population and sickness insurance statistics were used as the basis for computations. RESULTS: The life span in subjects with RA was shortened by 15-20% from the date of onset of illness. The determinants of excess mortality could be studied in females. About 40% of the excess deaths were due to cardiovascular causes, 30% to infections, 15% to amyloidosis, and the remaining 15% to diverse causes. CONCLUSION: This data provides an enlightened basis for understanding mortality associated with RA.

Aged↗