Rheumatoid Arthritis: Ory PA

Ory PA. · Southwest Medical Imaging, Seatle, Washinton 98166, USA. · Ann Rheum Dis. · Pubmed #12810418 links to  free full text

Abstract: Plain film radiography is the preferred method for evaluating disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis and for establishing the efficacy of new disease modifying antirheumatic agents. However, the relative efficacy of these agents cannot be determined by comparing radiographic data from different studies, and a standardised system is needed.

Ory PA. · University of Washington, Seattle, USA. · Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. · Pubmed #12787514 No free full text.

Abstract: Plain film radiography is the most widely used imaging technique for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of chronic inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases. Advanced imaging techniques that are better suited for detecting soft-tissue inflammation are available, but they are more costly and some of them may expose the patient to higher doses of radiation. Plain film radiographs are inexpensive, easy to generate, can be compared with baseline and prospective films, and provide a permanent, reproducible record. Radiographs can easily detect the features that are specific to various rheumatological disorders, and serial radiography can be used to assess response to therapy by measuring erosions, joint space narrowing, and other disease-specific features. This chapter discusses the use of radiography for diagnosing and differentiating various rheumatic joint diseases, specifically rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis. The most frequently used scoring systems that are used to assess and monitor the severity and progression of these disorders are briefly described.

Cohen SB, Dore RK, Lane NE, Ory PA, Peterfy CG, Sharp JT, van der Heijde D, Zhou L, Tsuji W, Newmark R, Anonymous00022. · Metroplex Clinical Research Center, Dallas, Texas 75235, USA. · Arthritis Rheum. · Pubmed #18438830 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: RANKL is essential for osteoclast development, activation, and survival. Denosumab is a fully human monoclonal IgG2 antibody that binds RANKL, inhibiting its activity. The aim of this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study was to evaluate the effects of denosumab on structural damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving methotrexate treatment. METHODS: RA patients received subcutaneous placebo (n = 75), denosumab 60 mg (n = 71), or denosumab 180 mg (n = 72) injections every 6 months for 12 months. The primary end point was the change from baseline in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) erosion score at 6 months. RESULTS: At 6 months, the increase in the MRI erosion score from baseline was lower in the 60-mg denosumab group (mean change 0.13; P = 0.118) and significantly lower in the 180-mg denosumab group (mean change 0.06; P = 0.007) than in the placebo group (mean change 1.75). A significant difference in the modified Sharp erosion score was observed as early as 6 months in the 180-mg denosumab group (P = 0.019) as compared with placebo, and at 12 months, both the 60-mg (P = 0.012) and the 180-mg (P = 0.007) denosumab groups were significantly different from the placebo group. Denosumab caused sustained suppression of markers of bone turnover. There was no evidence of an effect of denosumab on joint space narrowing or on measures of RA disease activity. Rates of adverse events were comparable between the denosumab and placebo groups. CONCLUSION: Addition of twice-yearly injections of denosumab to ongoing methotrexate treatment inhibited structural damage in patients with RA for up to 12 months, with no increase in the rates of adverse events as compared with placebo.