Intermetatarsal Bursitis, a Novel Feature of Juxtaarticular Inflammation in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Related to Clinical Signs: Results of a Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Intermetatarsal bursae in the forefeet possess a synovial lining similar to joints and tendon sheaths. Inflammation of these bursae (intermetatarsal bursitis [IMB]) was recently identified as specific for early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present study was undertaken to determine if IMB is indeed an RA feature by assessing the following: 1) the association with other local inflammatory measures (synovitis, tenosynovitis, and osteitis), 2) the association with clinical signs, and 3) whether it responds to disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy similarly to other local inflammatory measures.

Methods

One hundred fifty-seven consecutive early RA patients underwent unilateral contrast-enhanced 1.5T forefoot magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at diagnosis.

SUBMITTER: van Dijk BT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9795989 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature