A Longitudinal Evaluation of Bone Erosive Damage in the Metacarpophalangeal Joints of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Early Erosions in Rheumatoid Arthritis (EERA) Software
| dc.contributor.advisor | Adachi, Jonathan | |
| dc.contributor.author | Tomizza, Michael A. | |
| dc.contributor.department | Medical Sciences (Division of Physiology/Pharmacology) | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2015-09-24T18:55:46Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2015-09-24T18:55:46Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2015-11 | |
| dc.description.abstract | In this longitudinal pilot study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Early Erosions in Rheumatoid Arthritis (EERA) software were used to quantify bone erosive damage in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) 2-5 joints of the worst-affected hand (i.e. greatest swelling and tenderness at baseline) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n=35). Firstly, Spearman’s rho (rs) was used to evaluate the correlation between total change in sum erosive damage and change in functional ability, as well as the correlation between rate of change in sum erosive damage and change in functional ability. The rs (p-value) for total change and rate of change in sum erosive damage was 0.099 (0.585) and 0.104 (0.565), respectively. Therefore, the null hypothesis that neither variable was associated with change in functional ability could not be rejected. Participants were also classified into three groups based on total change in sum erosive damage (improvement, stable or progression) and were examined for possible differences in a variety of measures using an exploratory, non-statistical approach. Most notably, participants in the improvement group had more than five times the mean sum erosive damage at baseline compared to the progression group and also appeared to be the least aggresively medicated of the three cohorts. This study is the first to apply EERA in a way that helps to address clinically important questions related to change in erosive damage and functional ability. Future studies should use the ideas and concepts generated in this pilot study to further explore the use of this highly reproducible erosion quantification software, with the ultimate goal of expanding the applications of EERA in both the research and clinical settings. | en_US |
| dc.description.degree | Master of Science (MSc) | en_US |
| dc.description.degreetype | Thesis | en_US |
| dc.description.layabstract | In this study, the hands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate how erosive damage to the bone changes over time. Specialized computer software entitled Early Erosions in Rheumatoid Arthritis (EERA) was used to perform this analysis. Firstly, change in erosive damage was not found to be related to change in functional ability (e.g. eating, grip, etc.). Secondly, it appeared that individuals who demonstrated improvement in bone damage over time had significant damage at the beginning of the study period. Overall, this study provides new information for researchers and clinicians in terms of how this unique software can be used to enhance our understanding of RA. Future studies will continue to explore ways in which this software can be applied to address questions that are important to RA patients. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/18162 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | Rheumatoid arthritis, Bone erosion, Metacarpophalangeal joint, Magnetic resonance imaging, Functional ability | en_US |
| dc.title | A Longitudinal Evaluation of Bone Erosive Damage in the Metacarpophalangeal Joints of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Early Erosions in Rheumatoid Arthritis (EERA) Software | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |