Prevalence and location of inflammatory and structural lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with chronic neck pain evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging
Authors' conclusion
While involvement of upper cervical inflammation was typically present in RA, r-axSpA patients showed more BME in lower CS segments, vertebral corners, facet joints and spinous processes. Neck pain is linked to upper and lower inflammatory and structural lesions of the CS in both diseases.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) with chronic (> 3 months) neck pain as leading clinical symptom
- Participants
- 107 patients
- Exposure
- RA vs r-axSpA with chronic neck pain
- RAn = 59
- r-axSpAn = 48
- Outcome
- Prevalence and location of inflammatory and structural lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine
Methodological detailsconsecutive inclusion
- Consecutive inclusion
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Bone marrow edema (BME)-score
0.35vs0.17
P < 0.001
BME more frequent in axSpA
Synovitis-score
0.02vs0.1
P < 0.001
synovitis more prevalent in RA
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
BME in vertebral corners
BME in facet joints
BME in spinous processes
Erosive osteochondrosis with endplate BME
P = 0.002
| Outcome | RA | r-axSpA | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neck pain (NRS) | 5.0 ± 3.6 | 3.0 ± 3.1 | P = 0.003 |
Northwick-Park-Neck-Pain-questionnaire
- No difference between RA and r-axSpA
Original publication
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