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Quantitative cerebral MR in rheumatoid arthritis
S I Bekkelund1, C Pierre-Jerome, G Husby
1Department of Neurology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|April 1, 1995
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis patients show a tendency for cerebral and cerebellar atrophy, but not significantly more white matter lesions than controls. This suggests vasculitis is not a frequent cause of silent infarcts in rheumatoid arthritis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
- Radiology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease.
- Cerebral vasculitis can occur in RA, potentially leading to neurological complications.
- Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can detect white matter lesions and atrophy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of white matter lesions and atrophy indicative of cerebral vasculitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- To compare MR imaging findings between RA patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- MR imaging was performed on 33 RA patients and 48 controls (ages 25-55).
- Atrophy was assessed by measuring the corpus callosum, cerebrum, and cerebellum areas, and calculating ventricle-to-brain, bifrontal, and bicaudate ratios.
- Hyperintense white matter lesions were quantified by number, area, and signal intensity.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in the number or size of white matter lesions were found between RA patients and controls.
- A tendency towards increased cerebral and cerebellar atrophy was observed in RA patients, particularly those with long disease duration (>15 years).
- No differences were detected between treated and untreated RA patients, or in lesion signal intensity.
Conclusions:
- While RA patients may exhibit a trend towards cerebral and cerebellar atrophy, the study did not find evidence of increased white matter lesions.
- The findings do not support a higher frequency of clinically silent infarcts due to vasculitis in RA patients compared to controls.