Associations between synovitis and radiographic osteoarthritis progression in the first carpometacarpal and interphalangeal joints: results from the Nor-Hand study
Authors' conclusion
Baseline synovitis detected by ultrasound and MRI was associated with radiographic progression in both CMC1 and interphalangeal joints, supporting inflammation as a relevant prognostic feature across hand OA phenotypes.
Study context
- Population
- Participants with hand osteoarthritis (OA) from the Nor-Hand cohort; CMC1 and interphalangeal joints
- Participants
- 201 participants
- Exposure
- Baseline synovitis vs none, by grade
- Outcome
- Radiographic progression in the same joint: ≥1 increase in Kellgren-Lawrence grade, osteophytes or joint space narrowing, or incident erosions
Methodological detailslogistic regression with generalised estimating equations, adjusted for age, sex, BMI and follow-up time
- Logistic regression with generalised estimating equations
- Adjusted for age, sex, BMI and follow-up time
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Kellgren-Lawrence progression by baseline grade 3 grey-scale synovitis
Odds ratio (95% CI)
Grade 3 grey-scale synovitis (CMC1)
9.3(2.2–39.6)
Grade 3 grey-scale synovitis (interphalangeal)
23.4(10.4–52.9)
- Kellgren-Lawrence progression in CMC1 joints
- 14.7%
- Kellgren-Lawrence progression in interphalangeal joints
- 10.2%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Power Doppler activity and MRI-defined synovitis
- Similar relationships with radiographic progression
Original publication
Associations between synovitis and radiographic osteoarthritis progression in the first carpometacarpal and interphalangeal joints: results from the Nor-Hand study. RMD Open. Published 20 August 2026. doi:10.
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