Magnetic resonance imaging in early arthritis:
The use of a hand and foot MR scanner in early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous disorder leading to disability and
serious loss of quality of life. Evidence is accumulating that postponing the
onset and, in established RA, induction of drug free remission may be achieved
if effective treatments are started in a timely manner in the individual
patient. Hence, the ability to diagnose the disease at an early stage is key to
(cost) effective treatment of RA. In a previous study we studied the value of
hand and foot MRI in early arthritis patients in the early detection of RA. We
observed that MRI detected inflammation had an independent value. Replication
of findings is essential and crucial to enhance the implementation of research
findings in daily clinical practice.

To validate the findings on the diagnostic value of hand and foot MRI for early
detection of RA in an independent sample set.

This is a longitudinal observational study. Patients referred to the LUMC early
arthritis clinic that fulfill the inclusion criteria will have 1.5 Tesla (T)
MRI of the (most painful or dominant) hand and foot at baseline. A patient
friendly extremity scanner will be used. The 1.5T MRI will be performed using
state of the art techniques, with intravenous contrast administration.
Inclusion of patients will continue until a total sample size at baseline of
550 patients is reached. The association between MRI abnormalities and the
final diagnosis will be determined.

Limited risk of contrast reactions or allergy (<1 %).