Radiographic Structural Damage Is Worse in the Dominant than the Non-Dominant Hand in Individuals with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The relationship between mechanical stress and radiographic progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unclear. The assumption is that mechanical stress is greater in the dominant hand. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the presence and progression of erosions and joint space narrowing (JSN) in the dominant and non-dominant hand.

Methods

Data from 194 patients recently diagnosed with seropositive RA, and with hand radiographs taken at the time of diagnosis and at 2-year follow-up, were analyzed retrospectively. Radiographs were scored using the van der Heijde-modified Sharp Score (HSS) method. Each joint group within each hand was rated separately by two independent examiners in a double-blinded manner.

Results

One hundred and ninety-fo

SUBMITTER: Koh JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4527732 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature