[Analysis of radiographic changes in the cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis]

At the outpatient department of rheumatology 100 patients having definitive or classic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined and their cervical spine was radiographed with traditional X-ray technique. Correlation between roentgen signs and some parameters of the patient and of the disease was processed by regression analysis. The presence of the rheumatoid factor and second line drug therapy did not influence radiographic changes. Degenerative roentgen signs showed a linear correlation with the RA functional capacity and the duration of cervical complaints, and an exponential correlation with the duration of disease and the age of the patient. There was a linear correlation between osteoporosis and all the parameters examined. Inflammatory radiographic changes showed an exponential correlation with functional capacity and duration of cervical complaints, and a linear correlation with the duration of illness and the age of the patient. Symptoms of patients never treated with steroids was more severe than of those receiving short steroid therapy, but less serious than of those who had taken steroids for a long time (for longer than 10 years).