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.