MR imaging of erosions in interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis: is all osteoarthritis erosive?

Erosive hand osteoarthritis: latest findings and outlook

Osteoarthritis (OA) most commonly affects knee joints, and the next most commonly affected sites are the hands and hips. Three distinct hand OA phenotypes have been described: erosive hand OA (EHOA), nodal hand OA - also known as non-erosive hand OA (non-EHOA) - and first carpometacarpal joint OA. EHOA predominantly affects women and is the most aggressive form of hand OA, characterized by a severe clinical onset and progression, leading to joint damage, disability and reduction of quality of life. Clinical signs of inflammation associated with EHOA include the acute onset of pain, swelling and redness. Moreover, EHOA is characterized by radiographic features such as central erosion, saw-tooth and gull-wing lesions and, rarely, ankylosis. The aim of this Review is to report the latest findings on epidemiology, clinical features, pathology and aetiopathogenesis, biomarkers, imaging modalities and treatments for EHOA. The ongoing development of new hand OA classification criteria should facilitate standardization between studies.

Hand Erosive Osteoarthritis and Distal Interphalangeal Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis: The Place of Conservative Therapy

Hand erosive osteoarthritis (HEOA) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) with DIP involvement are common diseases affecting the hand. Both of them evolve with a progressive limitation in grip due to limited range of motion of the affected joints and stenosing tenosynovitis. Pharmacological options currently available (corticosteroids and clodronate or Idrossicloroquine) for the treatment of EHOA are mostly symptomatic and currently there are no effective drugs able to modify the course of the disease. In addition, data on drug effectiveness of PsA with DIP involvement are lacking. Conservative therapy should be considered in order to reduce pain and improve hand functionality. There are many studies debating a wide range of non-pharmacological intervention in the management of HEOA: joint protection program, range of motion and strengthening exercise, hand exercise with electromagnetic therapy, application of heat with paraffin wax or balneotherapy, occupational therapy and education. Concerning conservative treatment strategies to treat PsA, on the contrary, current evidence is still weak. Further research is needed to find the correct place of physical therapy to prevent stiffness and ankylosis due to the vicious circle of inflammation-pain-immobility-rigidity.

Reliability of detection of ultrasound and MRI features of hand osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review the literature on inter- and intra-rater reliability of scoring ultrasound and MRI changes in hand osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Medline, EMBASE, CINHAL, Web of Science and AMED were searched from inception to January 2020. Kappa (K), weighted Kappa (Kw) and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for dichotomous, semi-quantitative and summated scores respectively, and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using random-effects model. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed and reliability estimates were interpreted using Landis-Koch's classification.

RESULTS

Fifty studies met the inclusion criteria (33 ultrasound, 21 MRI). The pooled K(95% CI) for inter-rater reliability was substantial for ultrasound-detected osteophytes [0.66 (0.54, 0.79)], grey-scale synovitis (GSS) [0.64 (0.32, 0.97)], and power Doppler (PD) [0.76, (0.47, 1.05)]; whereas intra-rater reliability was almost perfect for osteophytes [0.82 (0.80, 0.84)], central bone erosions (CBEs) [0.83 (0.78, 0.89)], and effusion [0.83 (0.74, 0.91)]; and substantial for GSS [0.64 (0.49, 0.79)] and PD [0.70 (0.59, 0.80)].Inter-rater reliability for dichotomous assessment was substantial for MRI-detected CBEs [0.75 (0.67, 0.83)] and synovitis [0.69 (0.51, 0.87)]; slight for osteophytes [0.14 (0.04, 0.25)]; and almost perfect for sum score of osteophytes, CBEs, joint space narrowing (JSN), and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) (0.81-0.89). Intra-rater reliability was almost perfect for sum score of MRI synovitis [0.92 (0.87, 0.96)], BMLs [0.88 (0.78, 0.98)], osteophytes [0.86 (0.74, 0.98)], CBEs [0.83 (0.66, 1.00)] and JSN [0.91 (0.87, 0.91)].

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound and MRI are reliable in detecting hand OA features. Ultrasound may be preferred due to low-cost and increasing availability.

Assessment of structural lesions, synovitis and bone marrow lesions in erosive hand osteoarthritis on MRI (0.3T) compared to the radiographic anatomical Verbruggen-Veys score

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate prevalence of structural lesions, synovitis and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) on MRI performed with a 0.3T imaging system in patients with erosive hand osteoarthritis (EHOA) and to compare them to the anatomic radiographic Verbruggen-Veys score (VV).

DESIGN

For this Cross-sectional study, fifty-five EHOA patients were studied with 0.3T contrast-enhanced MRI and radiography (RX) of their dominant hand. Structural lesions were scored according to the OMERACT Hand Osteoarthritis MRI Scoring System as follows: osteophytes and erosions were graded from 0 to 3. On joint destruction lesion synovitis and BMLs were graded from 0 to 1. And on MRI, we evaluated the presence of several structural features: N: normal, O: osteophytic lesions, E: erosive lesions, E/O: osteophytic and erosive lesions and D: joint destruction. RX was scored according to the VV system. Relations between MRI features and VV stages were analysed.

RESULTS

MRI identified more structural lesions than RX (77.3% versus 74.8%) and particularly more erosive lesions (E or E/O) than VV Phase E (33.5% versus 20.2%). E/O and D were mostly found on MRI. Synovitis and BMLs were significantly associated with E/O and D with the following odds ratios (ORs): 8.4 (95% CI 1.8-13.6); OR: 13.7 (95% CI 2.9-21.0); OR: 15.7 (95% CI 3.2-23.5); OR: 38.5 (95% CI 9.5-57.0), respectively.

CONCLUSION

MRI 0.3T appears completely relevant for EHOA lesion analysis. First, MRI shows more erosive lesions than RX in EHOA; second, it allows for the analysis of synovitis and BMLs to be associated with more specific structural MRI features (E/O and D).

EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in the clinical management of peripheral joint osteoarthritis

The increased information provided by modern imaging has led to its more extensive use. Our aim was to develop evidence-based recommendations for the use of imaging in the clinical management of the most common arthropathy, osteoarthritis (OA). A task force (including rheumatologists, radiologists, methodologists, primary care doctors and patients) from nine countries defined 10 questions on the role of imaging in OA to support a systematic literature review (SLR). Joints of interest were the knee, hip, hand and foot; imaging modalities included conventional radiography (CR), MRI, ultrasonography, CT and nuclear medicine. PubMed and EMBASE were searched. The evidence was presented to the task force who subsequently developed the recommendations. The strength of agreement for each recommendation was assessed. 17 011 references were identified from which 390 studies were included in the SLR. Seven recommendations were produced, covering the lack of need for diagnostic imaging in patients with typical symptoms; the role of imaging in differential diagnosis; the lack of benefit in monitoring when no therapeutic modification is related, though consideration is required when unexpected clinical deterioration occurs; CR as the first-choice imaging modality; consideration of how to correctly acquire images and the role of imaging in guiding local injections. Recommendations for future research were also developed based on gaps in evidence, such as the use of imaging in identifying therapeutic targets, and demonstrating the added value of imaging. These evidence-based recommendations and related research agenda provide the basis for sensible use of imaging in routine clinical assessment of people with OA.

Imaging of osteoarthritis (OA): What is new?

In daily clinical practice, conventional radiography is still the most applied imaging technique to supplement clinical examination of patients with suspected osteoarthritis (OA); it may not always be needed for diagnosis. Modern imaging modalities can visualize multiple aspects of the joint, and depending on the diagnostic need, radiography may no longer be the modality of choice. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a complete assessment of the joint and has a pivotal role in OA research. Computed tomography (CT) and nuclear medicine offer alternatives in research scenarios, while ultrasound can visualize bony and soft-tissue pathologies and is highly feasible in the clinic. In this chapter, we overview the recent literature on established and newer imaging modalities, summarizing their ability to detect and quantify the range of OA pathologies and determining how they may contribute to early OA diagnosis. This accurate imaging-based detection of pathologies will underpin true understanding of much needed structure-modifying therapies.

Directional fractal signature methods for trabecular bone texture in hand radiographs: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

PURPOSE

To develop directional fractal signature methods for the analysis of trabecular bone (TB) texture in hand radiographs. Problems associated with the small size of hand bones and the orientation of fingers were addressed.

METHODS

An augmented variance orientation transform (AVOT) and a quadrant rotating grid (QRG) methods were developed. The methods calculate fractal signatures (FSs) in different directions. Unlike other methods they have the search region adjusted according to the size of bone region of interest (ROI) to be analyzed and they produce FSs defined with respect to any chosen reference direction, i.e., they work for arbitrary orientation of fingers. Five parameters at scales ranging from 2 to 14 pixels (depending on image size and method) were derived from rose plots of Hurst coefficients, i.e., FS in dominating roughness (FSSta), vertical (FSV) and horizontal (FSH) directions, aspect ratio (StrS), and direction signatures (StdS), respectively. The accuracy in measuring surface roughness and isotropy/anisotropy was evaluated using 3600 isotropic and 800 anisotropic fractal surface images of sizes between 20 × 20 and 64 × 64 pixels. The isotropic surfaces had FDs ranging from 2.1 to 2.9 in steps of 0.1, and the anisotropic surfaces had two dominating directions of 30° and 120°. The methods were used to find differences in hand TB textures between 20 matched pairs of subjects with (cases: approximate Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade ≥ 2) and without (controls: approximate KL grade <2) radiographic hand osteoarthritis (OA). The OA Initiative public database was used and 20 × 20 pixel bone ROIs were selected on 5th distal and middle phalanges. The performance of the AVOT and QRG methods was compared against a variance orientation transform (VOT) method developed earlier [M. Wolski, P. Podsiadlo, and G. W. Stachowiak, "Directional fractal signature analysis of trabecular bone: evaluation of different methods to detect early osteoarthritis in knee radiographs," Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part H 223, 211-236 (2009)].

RESULTS

The AVOT method correctly quantified the isotropic and anisotropic surfaces for all image sizes and scales. Values of FSSta were significantly different (P < 0.05) between the isotropic surfaces. Using the VOT and QRG methods no differences were found at large scales for the isotropic surfaces that are smaller than 64 × 64 and 48 × 48 pixels, respectively, and at some scales for the anisotropic surfaces with size 48 × 48 pixels. Compared to controls, using the AVOT and QRG methods the authors found that OA TB textures were less rough (P < 0.05) in the dominating and horizontal directions (i.e., lower FSSta and FSH), rougher in the vertical direction (i.e., higher FSV) and less anisotropic (i.e., higher StrS) than controls. No differences were found using the VOT method.

CONCLUSIONS

The AVOT method is well suited for the analysis of bone texture in hand radiographs and it could be potentially useful for early detection and prediction of hand OA.

OARSI Clinical Trials Recommendations: Design and conduct of clinical trials for hand osteoarthritis

Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a very frequent disease, but yet understudied. However, a lot of works have been published in the past 10 years, and much has been done to better understand its clinical course and structural progression. Despite this new knowledge, few therapeutic trials have been conducted in hand OA. The last OARSI recommendations for the conduct of clinical trials in hand OA dates back to 2006. The present recommendations aimed at updating previous recommendations, by incorporating new data. The purpose of this expert opinion, consensus driven exercise is to provide evidence-based guidance on the design, execution and analysis of clinical trials in hand OA, where published evidence is available, supplemented by expert opinion, where evidence is lacking, to perform clinical trials in hand OA, both for symptom and for structure-modification. They indicate core outcome measurement sets for studies in hand OA, and list the methods and instruments that should be used to measure symptoms or structure. For both symptom- and structure-modification, at least pain, physical function, patient global assessment, HR-QoL, joint activity and hand strength should be assessed. In addition, for structure-modification trials, structural progression should be measured by radiographic changes. We also provide a research agenda listing many unsolved issues that seem to most urgently need to be addressed from the perspective of performing "good" clinical trials in hand OA. These updated OARSI recommendations should allow for better standardizing the conduct of clinical trials in hand OA in the next future.

Role of vascular channels as a novel mechanism for subchondral bone damage at cruciate ligament entheses in osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this work was to test whether normal peri-entheseal vascular anatomy at anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL) was associated with distribution of peri-entheseal bone erosion/bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in inflammatory arthritis (IA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Normal microanatomy was defined histologically in mice and by 3 T MRI and histology in 21 cadaveric knees. MRI of 89 patients from the Osteoarthritis Initiative and 27 patients with IA was evaluated for BMLs at ACL and PCL entheses. Antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in mice was evaluated to ascertain whether putative peri-entheseal vascular regions influenced osteitis and bone erosion.

RESULTS

Vascular channels penetrating cortical bone were identified in knees of non-arthritic mice adjacent to the cruciate ligaments. On MRI of normal cadavers, vascular channels adjacent to the ACL (64% of cases) and PCL (71%) entheses were observed. Histology of 10 macroscopically normal cadaveric specimens confirmed the location of vascular channels and associated subclinical changes including subchondral bone damage (80% of cases) and micro-cyst formation (50%). In the AIA model, vascular channels clearly provided a site for inflammatory tissue entry and osteoclast activation. MRI showed BMLs in the same topographic locations in both patients with early OA (41% ACL, 59% PCL) and IA (44%, 33%).

CONCLUSION

The findings show that normal ACL and PCL entheses have immediately adjacent vascular channels which are common sites of subtle bone marrow pathology in non-arthritic joints. These channels appear to be key determinants in bone damage in inflammatory and degenerative arthritis.

Radiographic scoring methods in hand osteoarthritis--a systematic literature search and descriptive review

OBJECTIVE

This systematic literature review aimed to evaluate the use of conventional radiography (CR) in hand osteoarthritis (OA) and to assess the metric properties of the different radiographic scoring methods.

DESIGN

Medical literature databases up to November 2013 were systematically reviewed for studies reporting on radiographic scoring of structural damage in hand OA. The use and metric properties of the scoring methods, including discrimination (reliability, sensitivity to change), feasibility and validity, were evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the 48 included studies, 10 provided data on reliability, 11 on sensitivity to change, four on feasibility and 36 on validity of radiographic scoring methods. Thirteen different scoring methods have been used in studies evaluating radiographic hand OA. The number of examined joints differed extensively and the obtained scores were analyzed in various ways. The reliability of the assessed radiographic scoring methods was good for all evaluated scoring methods, for both cross-sectional and longitudinal radiographic scoring. The responsiveness to change was similar for all evaluated scoring methods. There were no major differences in feasibility between the evaluated scoring methods, although the evidence was limited. There was limited knowledge about the validity of radiographic OA findings compared with clinical nodules and deformities, whereas there was better evidence for an association between radiographic findings and symptoms and hand function.

CONCLUSIONS

Several radiographic scoring methods are used in hand OA literature. To enhance comparability across studies in hand OA, consensus has to be reached on a preferred scoring method, the examined joints and the used presentation of data.

Differentiation between osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: implications for pathogenesis and treatment in the biologic therapy era

Rheumatologists have long considered OA and PsA as two completely distinct arthropathies. This review highlights how some forms of generalized OA and PsA may afflict the same entheseal-associated anatomical territories. While degeneration or inflammation may be clearly discernible at the two extremes, there may be a group of patients where differentiation is impossible. Misdiagnosis of a primary degeneration-related pathology as being part of the PsA spectrum could lead to apparent failure of disease-modifying agents, including apparent anti-TNF and apparent IL23/17 axis therapy failure. This is not a reflection of poor clinical acumen, but rather a failure to appreciate that the pathological process overlaps in the two diseases. Whether the category of OA-PsA overlap disease exists or whether it represents the co-occurrence of two common arthropathies that afflict the same anatomical territories has implications for the optimal diagnosis and management of both OA and PsA.

Report from the OMERACT Hand Osteoarthritis Special Interest Group: advances and future research priorities

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, frequently affecting the hands. In the last decade there has been increased awareness concerning this disorder because of its clinical burden. Unfortunately, only limited treatments for symptom alleviation are available, and no effective treatment for disease modification exists. The lack of treatment is due not only to a lack of understanding of the disease process, but also to poor outcome measures to assess the condition. The OMERACT Hand OA Special Interest Group (SIG) has started to develop a core set of outcome measures for hand OA clinical trials, observational studies, and clinical record keeping. At OMERACT 11, results from a Delphi exercise were presented, and a preliminary set of core domains was discussed. The group attempted to adopt the new OMERACT Filter 2.0 in the process, and literature overviews of conventional radiographs, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging as outcome measures in hand OA were presented. Discussions that followed highlighted further suggestions for core domains, the heterogeneity of hand OA, and future research priorities.

Joint and bone assessment in hand osteoarthritis

Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease frequently affecting middle-aged women. Prevalence estimates for OA vary widely depending on the age and sex of the population studied, the assessment tools used, and the specific joint sites analyzed OA is characterized by the degradation of articular cartilage, subchondral bone changes and osteophyte formation at the joint margins leading to joint failure. The pathogenesis of the disease and its evolution are multifactorial involving biomechanical, metabolic, hormonal, and genetic factors. Moreover, the role of inflammation has recently been advanced as pivotal in OA onset and progression. In particular, an uncommon variant of hand OA, erosive hand OA, is characterized by inflammatory and degenerative interphalangeal proximal and distal joints. The diagnosis of different types of hand OA is centered on clinical and laboratory investigations which can distinguish the peculiar aspects of these forms. Joint and bone assessments in hand OA are widely studied but there is no agreement with regard to established parameters to make a definitive diagnosis. This report focuses on the laboratory and clinimetric assessments that can be used to distinguish hand OA subtypes and addresses the debatable association with low bone mineral density in osteoporosis.

Distinguishing erosive osteoarthritis and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease

Erosive osteoarthritis is a term utilized to describe a specific inflammatory condition of the interphalangeal and first carpal metacarpal joints of the hands. The term has become a part of medical philosophical semantics and paradigms, but the issue is actually more complicated. Even the term osteoarthritis (non-erosive) has been controversial, with some suggesting osteoarthrosis to be more appropriate in view of the perspective that it is a non-inflammatory process undeserving of the “itis” suffix. The term “erosion” has also been a source of confusion in osteoarthritis, as it has been used to describe cartilage, not bone lesions. Inflammation in individuals with osteoarthritis actually appears to be related to complicating phenomena, such as calcium pyrophosphate and hydroxyapatite crystal deposition producing arthritis. Erosive osteoarthritis is the contentious term. It is used to describe a specific form of joint damage to specific joints. The damage has been termed erosions and the distribution of the damage is to the interphalangeal joints of the hand and first carpal metacarpal joint. Inflammation is recognized by joint redness and warmth, while X-rays reveal alteration of the articular surfaces, producing a smudged appearance. This ill-defined, joint damage has a crumbling appearance and is quite distinct from the sharply defined erosions of rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthropathy. The appearance is identical to those found with calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, both in character and their unique responsiveness to hydroxychloroquine treatment. Low doses of the latter often resolve symptoms within weeks, in contrast to higher doses and the months required for response in other forms of inflammatory arthritis. Reconsidering erosive osteoarthritis as a form of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease guides physicians to more effective therapeutic intervention.

Erosive and inflammatory joint changes in hereditary hemochromatosis arthropathy detected by low-field magnetic resonance imaging

The aim of the article is to describe and characterize the hemochromatosis arthropathy of the hand by low-field MRI in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Forty-nine patients with hereditary hemochromatosis (37 with and twelve without arthropathy) were examined clinically and by low-field MRI of the hands. The examination showed heterogeneous degenerative and inflammatory joint changes such as erosions (in 84% of all symptomatic patients), synovitis (77%), bone marrow edema (38%), subchondral cysts (30%), tenosynovitis (30%), joint space narrowing (73%) and osteophytes (59%) including hook-shaped osteophytes at MCP joints (32%). Mild joint changes were also seen in a lower percentage of asymptomatic patients. This is the first larger study addressing the joint changes of the hand in hereditary hemochromatosis using low-field MRI. Our study emphasizes the inflammatory and destructive character of the arthropathy besides the well-known degenerative joint changes described in conventional X-ray. The impact of joint changes in asymptomatic patients deserves further investigation.

3 T DCE-MRI assessment of synovitis of the interphalangeal joints in patients with erosive osteoarthritis for treatment response monitoring

OBJECTIVE

To study the value of 3 T dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI for assessment of synovitis of the interphalangeal joints in patients with erosive osteoarthritis (EOA) for treatment response monitoring.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The interphalangeal joints of fingers two to five were examined at 3 T MRI in nine patients with EOA. Two musculoskeletal radiologists recorded erosions, bone marrow oedema (BME), synovitis and osteophytes. Interobserver reliability was calculated using κ statistics. In six patients, DCE-MRI time intensity curves of synovitis in two affected joints were analysed. The maximum upslope, absolute and relative enhancement of synovitis were compared with MRI after 12 months of anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment. Intraobserver reproducibility was calculated using intra-class correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

Interobserver reliability was 'good' for detection of erosions (κ = 0.70), BME (κ = 0.77) and synovitis (κ = 0.77), but 'poor' for osteophytes (κ = 0.12). Post-treatment DCE-MRI showed decreasing maximum upslope (p = 0.002) and absolute (p = 0.002) and relative (p = 0.01) enhancement compared to the initial scan. Intraobserver reproducibility of DCE-MRI was 'almost perfect' or 'strong' for all parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

3 T DCE-MRI demonstrates changes in time intensity curves of synovitis in EOA of the interphalangeal joints in a longitudinal study, indicating this technique is promising for monitoring therapy response.

Imaging modalities in hand osteoarthritis--and perspectives of conventional radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography

Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is very frequent in middle-aged and older women and men in the general population. Currently, owing to high feasibility and low costs, conventional radiography (CR) is the method of choice for evaluation of hand OA. CR provides a two-dimensional picture of bony changes, such as osteophytes, erosions, cysts, and sclerosis, and joint space narrowing as an indirect measure of cartilage loss. There are several standardized scoring methods for evaluation of radiographic hand OA. The scales have shown similar reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change, and no conclusion about the preferred instrument has been drawn. Patients with hand OA may experience pain, stiffness, and physical disability, but the associations between radiographic findings and clinical symptoms are weak to moderate and vary across studies. OA is, indeed, recognized to involve the whole joint, and modern imaging techniques such as ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be valuable tools for better evaluation of hand OA. Standardized scoring methods have been proposed for both modalities. Several studies have examined the validity of US features in hand OA, whereas knowledge of the validity of MRI is more limited. However, both synovitis (detected by either US or MRI) and MRI-defined bone marrow lesions have been associated with pain, indicating that treatment of inflammation is important for pain management in hand OA. Both US and MRI have shown better sensitivity than CR in detection of erosions, and this may indicate that erosive hand OA may be more common than previously thought.

Hand osteoarthritis--a heterogeneous disorder

Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent disorder. Hand OA is not one single disease, but a heterogeneous group of disorders. Radiographic signs of hand OA, such as osteophytes or joint space narrowing, can be found in up to 81% of the elderly population. Several hand OA subsets--such as nodal interphalangeal OA, thumb base OA and erosive OA--can be discriminated. Furthermore, the experience of symptoms and the course of the disease differ between patients. Studies that used well-defined study populations with longitudinal follow-up have shown that similarities and differences can be observed in the pathogenesis, epidemiology and risk factors of the various hand OA subsets. Erosive OA in particular, characterized by erosive lesions on radiographical images, has a higher clinical burden and worse outcome than nonerosive hand OA. Imaging modalities (such as ultrasonography) have increased our knowledge of the role of inflammation of the disease. Our understanding of the heterogeneous nature of hand OA can eventually lead to increased knowledge of the pathogenesis of, and ultimately new treatment modalities for, this complex disease.

Osteoarthritis: an update with relevance for clinical practice

Osteoarthritis is thought to be the most prevalent chronic joint disease. The incidence of osteoarthritis is rising because of the ageing population and the epidemic of obesity. Pain and loss of function are the main clinical features that lead to treatment, including non-pharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical approaches. Clinicians recognise that the diagnosis of osteoarthritis is established late in the disease process, maybe too late to expect much help from disease-modifying drugs. Despite efforts over the past decades to develop markers of disease, still-imaging procedures and biochemical marker analyses need to be improved and possibly extended with more specific and sensitive methods to reliably describe disease processes, to diagnose the disease at an early stage, to classify patients according to their prognosis, and to follow the course of disease and treatment effectiveness. In the coming years, a better definition of osteoarthritis is expected by delineating different phenotypes of the disease. Treatment targeted more specifically at these phenotypes might lead to improved outcomes.

Serum resistin level is associated with radiographic changes in hand osteoarthritis: cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether adipokines such as adiponectin and resistin were related to radiographic outcomes in patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

A total of 156 female subjects (46 controls, 60 non-radiographic hand OA, and 50 radiographic hand OA) were enrolled. We measured serum adiponectin and resistin concentrations using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Radiographic hand OA was defined by the presence of a ≥2 Kellgren-Lawrence radiological grade after assessment for 20 joints of both hands. The association between radiographic hand OA and each adipokine was assessed using multivariate logistic regression models controlling for confounding clinical parameters.

RESULTS

Serum resistin levels in radiographic hand OA patients were higher than in non-radiographic hand OA and controls (p(adj)=0.020 and p(adj)=0.019, respectively), whereas there were no significant differences in serum adiponectin levels. The presence of radiographic changes in hand OA was shown to be dependent on serum resistin levels (p(adj)=0.028). Specifically, subchondral erosion in radiographic hand OA was associated with serum resisitin (p(adj)=0.028). However, there were no associations of serum adipokines with joint space narrowing, bony ankylosis, and cortical destruction.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that resistin is involved in radiographic changes in hand OA, and that adipokines contribute to pathogenesis in radiographic outcomes in hand OA.

Proximal interphalangeal joint arthritis

Proximal interphalangeal joint function is critical for proper finger and hand function and arthritis of this joint can lead to considerable hand impairment. Proximal interphalangeal joint arthritides are broadly categorized into nonerosive and erosive osteoarthritis (OA), posttraumatic arthritis, and inflammatory arthritis. The nonerosive type is considered idiopathic or primary OA, whereas the erosive form exhibits an inflammatory component. Idiopathic or primary OA occurs as a consequence of abnormal mechanical stress that leads to damage of cartilage and subchondral bone, with subsequent cytokine and growth factor activation. Individual genetics then mediate the cellular responses. Although erosive OA is described as a separate entity, this remains controversial, with many suggesting that it is merely a more aggressive form of nonerosive, primary OA. Inflammatory OA occurs when connective tissues are diseased, allowing for normal use to incite arthritic damage. Treatment modalities for proximal interphalangeal joint arthritis are currently limited.

Osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint

Osteoarthritis occurs with the highest prevalence in the distal interphalangeal joint of the hand and has been divided into an erosive and a nonerosive form. The pathogenesis of the early stages of osteoarthritis is poorly understood, but considerable emphasis has been placed on the role of cartilage and subchondral bone as well as soft tissue structures such as collateral ligaments and tendons. Radiographic evaluation represents the most standardized method to quantify disease progression, with different systems having been developed for defining and grading radiographic features. This current concepts article examines the recent knowledge base regarding the etiology, pathogenesis, and evaluation of osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint.

High-resolution x-ray guided three-dimensional diffuse optical tomography of joint tissues in hand osteoarthritis: morphological and functional assessments

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of multimodality functional imaging techniques to identify the quantitative optical findings that can be used to distinguish between osteoarthritic and normal finger joints.

METHODS

Between 2006 and 2009, the distal interphalangeal finger joints from 40 female subjects including 22 patients and 18 healthy controls were examined clinically and scanned by a hybrid imaging system. This system integrated x-ray tomosynthetic setup with a diffuse optical imaging system. Optical absorption and scattering images were recovered based on a regularization-based hybrid reconstruction algorithm. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to calculate the statistical significance of specific optical features obtained from osteoarthritic and healthy joints groups.

RESULTS

The three-dimensional optical and x-ray images captured made it possible to quantify optical properties and joint space width of finger joints. Based on the recovered optical absorption and scattering parameters, the authors observed statistically significant differences between healthy and osteoarthritis finger joints.

CONCLUSIONS

The statistical results revealed that sensitivity and specificity values up to 92% and 100%, respectively, can be achieved when optical properties of joint tissues were used as classifiers. This suggests that these optical imaging parameters are possible indicators for diagnosing osteoarthritis and monitoring its progression.

Ultrasound-detected synovitis with power Doppler signal is associated with severe radiographic damage and reduced cartilage thickness in hand osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVES

To examine ultrasound (US) features of synovitis in hand osteoarthritis (OA) joints, and to evaluate their relationship with radiological damage severity and US-detected cartilage thickness.

METHODS

US examination was carried out on 14 joints of both hands of 25 patients with symptomatic hand OA (HOA) and 10 age- and sex-matched control subjects. US-detected features were: synovial hypertrophy, effusion, power Doppler signal (PDS), cartilage thickness. Conventional hand radiographs were scored utilizing the Kellgren-Lawrence and Kallman systems. HOA patients were divided into two subsets: non-erosive and erosive.

RESULTS

Among the three groups of subjects studied, erosive OA showed the highest values of radiological scores and the highest prevalence of US-detected synovitis. Joints positive for US synovitis features (above all PDS) had higher radiological scores and lower cartilage thickness, while joints with X-ray detected central erosions [the hallmark of erosive HOA were more likely to present PDS positivity. US measured cartilage thickness inversely correlated with radiological damage scores.

CONCLUSIONS

US-detected synovitis is present in about 10% of HOA finger joints and is associated with more severe radiological damage and reduced cartilage thickness. PDS and cartilage thickness (mm) may represent two innovative additional information tools provided by ultrasonography in HOA evaluation.

Treatment with TNF-α inhibitor infliximab might reduce hand osteoarthritis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association between systemic and local inflammation and incident and progressive radiographic secondary osteoarthritis (OA) in interphalangeal joints (IPJs) over 3 years in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and the effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor infliximab on secondary OA in IPJs.

METHODS

In the present observational longitudinal study baseline and 3-year hand X-rays of 416 recent-onset RA patients were scored for osteophytes and erosions in IPJs, blinded for time, using Osteoarthritis Research Society International atlas and Sharp-van der Heijde score. The associations between inflammatory factors and incident and progressive secondary OA in distal IPJs (DIPJs) and proximal IPJs (PIPJs) and the effect of infliximab compared to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug treatment on secondary OA were analyzed by multivariable regression and generalised estimating equations analyses.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven percent of the patients were female with, at baseline, a mean age of 54 years and OA present in DIPJs and PIPJs in 37% and 13%. Three years later, new secondary OA in DIPJs and PIPJs was seen in 11% and 10%, and progressive secondary OA in 36% and 35%. High erythrocyte sedimentation rate over 3 years and progressive erosive damage were risk factors for incident secondary OA in DIPJs, but not in PIPJs. At joint level, progression of erosions was associated with both incident and progressive secondary OA, only in DIPJs. Infliximab treatment was associated with lower incident secondary OA in PIPJs [relative risk 0.5 (95% confidence interval 0.2, 1.0)], independent of decrease in inflammation.

CONCLUSION

Incident and progressive secondary OA in DIPJs over 3 years was associated with high inflammatory activity in RA. Infliximab treatment reduced incident secondary OA in PIPJs independent of decrease in inflammation, suggesting that anti-TNF-α therapy might be effective against secondary hand OA via other pathways than suppression of inflammation. Further studies in populations of primary hand OA are necessary to determine the role of anti-TNF-α in treatment of primary hand OA.

Role of imaging in spine, hand, and wrist osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the wrist is mainly secondary to traumatic ligamentous or bone injuries. Involvement of the radiocarpal joint occurs early on in the disease, whereas the mediocarpal joint is involved at a later stage. Metabolic diseases may also involve the wrist and affect specific joints such as the scapho-trapezio-trapezoid joint. Although OA of the wrist is routinely diagnosed on plain films, a thorough assessment of cartilage injuries on computed tomographic arthrography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or MR arthrography remains necessary before any surgical procedure. OA of the fingers is frequently encountered in postmenopausal women. Distal interphalangeal joints and trapezio-metacarpal joint are the most frequently involved joints. Whereas the clinical diagnosis of OA of the wrist and hand is straightforward, the therapeutic management of symptomatic forms remains unclear, with no clear guidelines. OA of the spine is related to degenerative changes of the spine involving the disc space, vertebral endplates, the facet joints, or the supportive and surrounding soft tissues. The sequelae of disc degeneration are among the leading causes of functional incapacity in both sexes, and are a common source of chronic disability in the working years. Disc degeneration involves structural disruption and cell-mediated changes in composition. Radiography remains usually the first-line imaging method. MRI is ideally suited for delineating the presence, extent, and complications of degenerative spinal disease. Other imaging modalities such as computed tomography, dynamic radiography, myelography, and discography may provide complementary information in selected cases, especially before an imaging-guided percutaneous treatment or spinal surgery. The presence of degenerative changes on imaging examinations is by no means an indicator of symptoms, and there is a high prevalence of lesions in asymptomatic individuals. This article focuses on imaging of OA of the wrist and hand, as well as lumbar spine OA, with an emphasis on current MRI grading systems available for the assessment of discovertebral lesions.

Comparison between clinical and ultrasonographic assessment in patients with erosive osteoarthritis of the hands

The objective of this study is to assess the reliability of clinical examination in patients with erosive osteoarthritis (EOA). Eighteen patients with EOA underwent clinical examination for joint tenderness, bony swelling, and inflammation by two independent, blinded assessors. All patients were also examined by ultrasound (US) by an independent radiologist. The inter-observer agreement was moderate for bony swelling and joint tenderness and fair for joint inflammation (kappa = 0.513, 0.448, and 0.402, respectively). US detected significantly more inflamed joints than clinical examination. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical examination for joint inflammation were 0.12 and 0.95, respectively. Clinical joint counts for bony swelling, tenderness, and inflammation all correlated with functional status, assessed by the functional index for hand osteoarthritis (FIHOA), whereas US joint counts for joint inflammation did not correlate with the FIHOA. No correlation was found between any clinical or US joint count and visual analog scale for pain. US detects more joints with inflammation than clinical examination in patients with EOA. US can supplement the clinical examination of patients with EOA, as US-detected subclinical joint inflammation might accelerate joint damage and thus functional impairment.

The anatomical basis for a novel classification of osteoarthritis and allied disorders

Osteoarthritis (OA) has historically been classified as 'primary' where no discernible cause was evident and 'secondary' where a triggering factor was apparent. Irrespective of the triggering events, late-stage OA is usually characterized by articular cartilage attrition and consequently the anatomical basis for disease has been viewed in terms of cartilage. However, the widespread application of magnetic resonance imaging in early OA has confirmed several different anatomical abnormalities within diseased joints. A key observation has been that several types of primary or idiopathic OA show ligament-related pathology at the time of clinical presentation, so these categories of disease are no longer idiopathic - at least from the anatomical perspective. There is also ample evidence for OA initiation in other structures including menisci and bones in addition to articular cartilage. Therefore, a new classification for OA is proposed, which is based on the anatomical sites of earliest discernible joint structural involvement. The major proposed subgroups within this classification are ligament-, cartilage-, bone-, meniscal- and synovial-related, in addition to disease that is mixed pattern or multifocal in origin. We show how such a structural classification for OA provides a useful reference framework for staging the magnitude of disease. For late-stage or end-stage/whole organ disease, the final common pathway of these different scenarios, joint replacement strategies are likely to remain the only viable option. However, for younger subjects in particular, near the time of clinical disease onset, this scheme has implications for therapy targeted to specific anatomical locations. Thus, in the same way that tumours can be classified and staged according to their tissue of origin and extent of involvement, OA can likewise be anatomically classified and staged. This has implications for therapeutic strategies including regenerative medicine therapy development.

Research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD): development of image analysis criteria and examiner reliability for image analysis

OBJECTIVE

As part of the Multisite Research Diagnostic Criteria For Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Validation Project, comprehensive temporomandibular joint diagnostic criteria were developed for image analysis using panoramic radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computerized tomography (CT).

STUDY DESIGN

Interexaminer reliability was estimated using the kappa (kappa) statistic, and agreement between rater pairs was characterized by overall, positive, and negative percent agreement. Computerized tomography was the reference standard for assessing validity of other imaging modalities for detecting osteoarthritis (OA).

RESULTS

For the radiologic diagnosis of OA, reliability of the 3 examiners was poor for panoramic radiography (kappa = 0.16), fair for MRI (kappa = 0.46), and close to the threshold for excellent for CT (kappa = 0.71). Using MRI, reliability was excellent for diagnosing disc displacements (DD) with reduction (kappa = 0.78) and for DD without reduction (kappa = 0.94) and good for effusion (kappa = 0.64). Overall percent agreement for pairwise ratings was >or=82% for all conditions. Positive percent agreement for diagnosing OA was 19% for panoramic radiography, 59% for MRI, and 84% for CT. Using MRI, positive percent agreement for diagnoses of any DD was 95% and of effusion was 81%. Negative percent agreement was >or=88% for all conditions. Compared with CT, panoramic radiography and MRI had poor and marginal sensitivity, respectively, but excellent specificity in detecting OA.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive image analysis criteria for the RDC/TMD Validation Project were developed, which can reliably be used for assessing OA using CT and for disc position and effusion using MRI.

Ultrasonographic evidence of inflammation is frequent in hands of patients with erosive osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Erosive osteoarthritis (OA) (EOA) is considered an aggressive form of primary OA that is defined radiographically by intra-articular erosions of the inter-phalangeal joints of the hand and characteristic deformities. The aim of the present study was the sonographic investigation of hand small joints in patients with EOA and comparison of the imaging findings with conventional radiography (CR).

METHOD

Twenty-two patients (20 women, mean age 62.5 years) with clinical and radiographic diagnosis of EOA formed our study group. A total of 660 joints were assessed by both radiographs and ultrasound (US). US and plain films were evaluated by two different physicians on a blinded fashion. Erosions, osteophytes and deformities were evaluated by both US and plain films. Synovial thickening, effusion, and power Doppler signal indicative of abnormal vascularity were recorded in each joint during US scanning.

RESULTS

Erosions were detected in 231/660 (35%) small joints by US and in 115/660 (17.4%) small joints by conventional radiographs (P<0.05). Osteophytes were detected in 360/660 (54.5%) small joints by US, and in 310/660 (47.0%) small joints by conventional radiographs (P<0.05). Thickened synovium was detected in 19 of 22 patients and increased intra-articular power Doppler signal, indicative of active inflammation, was detected in 18 of 22 patients. Thickened synovium was found in 159/660 (24.1%), effusion in 119/660 (18%) and increased power Doppler in 148/660 (22.4%) small joints. Intra-observer kappa value for agreement regarding US was 0.81 and plain films 0.86. In 31 instances extensive finger tenosynovitis was also evident.

CONCLUSION

In patients with EOA, US is a reliable and a more sensitive imaging modality than CR in detecting erosions and osteophytes. US detects inflammatory changes in small hand joints in the vast majority of patients with EOA and suggests that current treatment modalities are inadequate treatment for this disease.

Entheses and bones in spondyloarthritis: 2008 Annual Research and Education Meeting of the Spondyloarthritis Research and Therapy Network (SPARTAN)

The Spondyloarthritis Research and Therapy Network (SPARTAN), founded in 2003 to promote research, education, and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and related forms of spondyloarthritis (SpA), held its 6th Annual Research and Education Meeting in July 2008 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The overall theme of the meeting was entheses and bones in SpA, which included presentations on the anatomy and physiology of the synovial-entheseal complex; bone formation and destruction, and the effect of inflammation on bone; the Th17 axis, HLA-B27, IL23R, and ARTS1; and breakout sessions on epidemiology and registries.

MRI in degenerative arthritides: structural and clinical aspects

Owing to the potential to image not only bone but also cartilage, bone marrow, and the surrounding internal soft tissue structures, MRI is particularly useful for the assessment of degenerative arthritides. Cartilage-sensitive MRI techniques have been shown to have a significant correlation with arthroscopic grading scores. MRI is also helpful in differentiating osteoarthritis from avascular necrosis, labral pathology, and pigmented villonodular synovitis. This chapter describes advanced imaging techniques, including driven equilibrium Fourier transform (DEFT) and steady-state free precision (SSFP) imaging, direct MRI arthrography, and 3D-T1rho-relaxation mapping.

What magnetic resonance imaging has told us about the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis--the first 50 years

Modern imaging modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are valuable diagnostic and therapy monitoring tools in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This article reviewed how these imaging modalities have greatly improved our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms in RA, namely the link between inflammation and damage. For example, traditional paradigms regarding the mechanisms of joint destruction, including the idea that synovitis and damage are uncoupled, have been challenged. As the power of MRI increases, there is a need to define normality since apparently normal joints occasionally exhibit MRI evidence of synovitis in the absence of symptoms.