Risk Factors of Cervical Spine Involvement in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Imaging Era: A...

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Radiology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Cervical spine involvement is a serious complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• Identifying risk factors and understanding imaging's role are crucial for managing RA-related cervical spine issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors for cervical spine involvement in RA.
• To evaluate the contribution of MRI in screening for rheumatoid cervical spine.
• To discuss the value of standard X-rays in diagnosing cervical spine complications in RA.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study included 100 RA patients.
• Patients underwent standard radiography and MRI of the cervical spine.
• Clinical, paraclinical, and therapeutic data were collected.

Main Results:

• Cervical pain was the predominant symptom.
• Standard radiographs showed C1-C2 instability in 52% of cases.
• MRI identified atlantoaxial subluxation, synovial thickening, and odontoid erosion.
• Age, rheumatoid factor, coxitis, and dry eye syndrome correlated with C1-C2 instability.
• Inflammatory cervical pain and painful joint mobilization correlated with C1-C2 synovitis.

Conclusions:

• RA and cervical spine involvement are linked to seropositive, destructive RA with systemic manifestations.
• Systematic clinical and radiological screening is essential for preserving functional prognosis.
• Diffusion imaging aids in quantitatively assessing synovitis in the craniocervical region.