A double-blind, randomized controlled trial to compare the effect of biannual peripheral magnetic resonance imaging, radiography and standard of care disease progression monitoring on pharmacotherapeutic escalation in rheumatoid and undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Permanent joint damage is a major consequence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common and destructive form of inflammatory arthritis. In aggressive disease, joint damage can occur within 6 months from symptom onset. Early, intensive treatment with conventional and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can delay the onset and progression of joint damage.

A parallel group cohort to determine the measurement properties of an early inflammatory arthritis detection tool.

Objectives: To determine the comprehensibility, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and discriminative properties of an early inflammatory arthritis (IA) detection tool.

Methods: Four groups were recruited from outpatient clinics at two tertiary care hospitals: early IA, established IA, non-IA musculoskeletal conditions (MSK) and non-MSK. Participants attended a study visit where they completed the 11-item tool with binary yes/no response options.