Background/Purpose: The diagnostic value of Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is undetermined. The main value of MR is its sensitive depiction of inflammation. A EULAR-imaging taskforce suggested MR also for early detection of joint damage. Because, the specificity of MR-detected erosions for RA is unknown, we assessed in symptom-free persons of the general population (1) the prevalence of MR-detected erosions and of these erosions (2) the preferential anatomic locations, (3) the association with gender and age and (4) the simultaneously presence of local MR-detected inflammation.

Methods: From November 2013-December 2014 symptom-free persons were recruited via newspapers and websites. Inclusion criteria were: no history of inflammatory arthritis, no joint symptoms during the last month and no clinically detectable arthritis. Contrast-enhanced 1.5T-MR of the dominant MCP, wrist and MTP-joints was made. Erosions were assessed based on RAMRIS (presence on 2 planes, with cortical break on ≥1 plane).

Results: 193 persons fulfilled the criteria (mean age 49.8 years, range 19-89). 22% of persons had no erosions. The total erosion-score correlated with age (r=0.69 p<0.001) and not with gender. Preferential locations were MCP-2 (6% of persons aged <40, 33% if aged ≥60), MCP-3 (8% in persons aged <40, 17% if aged ≥60), scaphoid (37% in persons aged ≥60), distal ulna (23% in persons aged ≥60), MTP-1 (37% in persons aged ≥60) and MTP-5 (10% in persons aged ≥60). Part of the joints with erosions also showed MR-detected inflammation.

Conclusion: In symptom-free persons MR-detected RAMRIS-defined erosions are prevalent, especially at higher age.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/prevalence-of-mr-detected-ramris-defined-erosions-in-the-general-population/