Download Appendix (for online supplement)

Appendix (for online supplement)
MRI
If possible, before and after 28 days of treatment, an MRI scan of a clinically inflamed large
joint was obtained. MRI scans of the wrist joint of 6 patients were acquired on a 1.5 T scanner
(GE Signa Horizon Echospeed) using a dedicated wrist coil. The sequences included the
OMERACT core set of MRI acquisitions (1). The knee joint of two patients were imaged
using the same scanner, with the knee joint placed in a dedicated knee coil, and using a 1.5T
Siemens Magnetom Sonata for the knee joint of one patient. Post-contrast T1-weighted
sequences of the knee joint of two patients were not available. The last images obtained with
an axial T1-weighted dynamic contrast enhanced MRI protocol were used for the evaluation
of synovitis.
Evaluation of MRI
Images of the wrists were assessed according to the MRI scoring system for RA (RAMRIS)
(1;2). The images of the knees were scored according to the MRI grading system described by
Forslind et al. (3). The reader (MM) was blinded to clinical information, treatment group
assignment and information whether the MRI scan was made before or after treatment.
References
(1) Ostergaard M, Peterfy C, Conaghan P, et al. OMERACT Rheumatoid Arthritis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies. Core set of MRI acquisitions, joint pathology
definitions, and the OMERACT RA-MRI scoring system. J Rheumatol 2003;
30(6):1385-6.
(2) Ejbjerg B, McQueen F, Lassere M, et al. The EULAR-OMERACT rheumatoid
arthritis MRI reference image atlas: the wrist joint. Ann Rheum Dis 2005; 64 Suppl
1:i23-i47.
(3) Forslind K, Larsson EM, Eberhardt K, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of the knee:
a tool for prediction of joint damage in early rheumatoid arthritis? Scand J Rheumatol
2004; 33(3):154-61.