A simplified fluid-sensitive MRI protocol for the hands to detect inflammation without contrast administration: a large study of symptom-free subjects from the general population as a reference for normality.

Objective: MRI of the hands is valuable for risk-stratification in patients with arthralgia at-risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Contrast-enhanced MRI is considered standard for assessment of RA, but has practical disadvantages. It also shows inflammation-like features in the general population, especially at older age, which should be considered in image interpretation.

Ultrasound of the forefeet besides the hands in patients at risk for rheumatoid arthritis: is it worth the effort? A longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: Ultrasound (US) can detect subclinical joint-inflammation in patients with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA), which is valuable as predictor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development. In most research protocols both hands and forefeet are scanned, but it is unclear if US of the forefeet has additional value for predicting RA, especially since synovial hypertrophy in MTP-joints of healthy individuals is also common. To explore the possibility to omit scanning of the forefeet we determined if US of the forefeet is of additional predictive value for RA-development in CSA patients.

Work-related physical strain and development of joint inflammation in the trajectory of emerging inflammatory and rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) mainly affects small joints. Despite the mechanical function of joints, the role of mechanical stress in the development of arthritis is insufficiently understood. We hypothesised that mechanical stress/physical strain is a risk factor for joint inflammation in RA.

Patients with obesity have more inflamed joints and higher CRP levels during the disease course in ACPA-positive RA but not in ACPA-negative RA.

Background: Obese RA patients have higher disease activity scores (DAS). Previous research showed that obese RA patients have higher tender joint count (TJC) and VAS general health. However, it remains unclear whether DAS components measuring local and systemic inflammation (swollen joint count (SJC), CRP) are increased and if this is present in the total RA population or confined to an ACPA subgroup.