MRI pattern of arthritis in systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparative study with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pattern of the distribution of bone marrow edema (BME) and joint erosion in hands and wrists of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with arthritis in comparison with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy subjects (H). METHODS: SLE patients with arthritis (n = 50), patients with RA (n = 22), and H (n = 48) were enrolled. Every patient underwent a non-dominant hand (2nd-5th metacarpophalangeal joints) and wrist MRI without contrast injection with a low-field extremity dedicated 0.2-Tesla instrument. RESULTS: BME was observed in two SLE patients in the hand (4%) and in 15 in the wrist (13%) versus three (30%), and 14 (63%) RA patients. No BME was found in H. Erosions were observed in the hand in 24 SLE patients (48%), 15 RA patients (68%), and 9 H (18 %); in the wrist, in 41 (82%) SLE, all RA and 47 (97%) H. The cumulative erosive burden in SLE was significantly higher than in H (c = 0.002) but similar to RA patients. CONCLUSIONS: Joint involvement of the wrist in SLE is similar to RA and is not as rare as expected, as shown by the comparison with healthy subjects. On the contrary, the involvement of the hand in SLE is significantly lower compared to RA.

Impact of Joint Involvement on Patients Reported Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Joint involvement is common among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Aim of this work was to evaluate the correlation between the presence of joint involvement and patient-reported pain, perception of disease activity, general health and quality of life. METHODS: Fifty consecutive SLE patients were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent a complete clinical evaluation including a 44-joint count; in addition, an ultrasound evaluation of joint involvement of hands and wrists was performed. The following patients reported outcomes (PROs) were completed: Visual Analog Scales 0-100 mm (VAS) evaluating patients reported pain, patient's perception of global disease activity and general health (GH) and a validated Italian version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). RESULTS: Fourteen patients (28%) reported a significant morning stiffness lasting for more than 30 minutes; hand or wrist arthritis was clinically detectable in 10 (20%) patients, while the US evaluation exhibited at least one joint or tendon pathology in 18 patients (36%). The mean VAS score for pain and disease activity perception was 27 (±27.7) mm and 25.3 (±25.2) mm, respectively, the mean of GH score was 33.2 (±24.3) mm, and the mean HAQ score was 0.34 (±0.5). A significant correlation was observed between VAS score for pain, patient's perception of disease activity and GH and the presence of arthritis. CONCLUSION: PROs may play an important role in guiding therapeutic decisions and suggest the utility of ultrasound evaluation in patients reporting articular symptoms.