Ostergaard M;Stoltenberg M;Gideon P;Wieslander S;Sonne-Holm S;Kryger P;Sonne M
Effect of intraarticular osmic acid on synovial membrane volume and inflammation, determined by magnetic resonance imaging
Scand J Rheumatol 1995, 24(1), , 5-12

The changes in MR-determined synovial membrane volume, early synovial enhancement, and cartilage and bone erosions after osmic acid knee synovectomy were studied. Gadolinium-DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 18 knees with persistent arthritis was performed before and 1 month after treatment. The synovial membrane volume was significantly reduced (median -52%) in all 9 patients brought into clinical remission (p < 0.01), while no significant change was found in patients with clinical relapse. The early synovial enhancement was not significantly changed. MRI revealed progressive erosive changes in 2 patients. The time of relapse was correlated to a MR-erosion score, but not to early synovial enhancement or volumes of synovium or effusion (Spearman tests). MRI-determined synovial membrane volumes and early synovial enhancement may be objective quantitative markers of inflammation. MR-scores of cartilage and bone erosions are sensitive to progressive changes occurring within a month