MR imaging in early rheumatoid arthritis : techniques and applications

Stomp, W. (2016)

Doctoral Thesis

The main aim of this thesis is to determine the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We set out to improve the MRI protocol and sequences used in arthritis patients, to detect subclinical inflammation in various patient groups and to describe the clinical implications of MRI. Chapter 1 provides a general introduction to this thesis, in chapter 2 the earliest disease stages of rheumatoid arthritis and the concept of pre-rheumatoid arthritis are further explored. In chapters 3-5 various ways are described to optimize the scanning protocol for arthritis patients. In chapters 6-8 we looked at the presence of inflammation on MRI when no inflammation can be detected at physical examination, i.e. subclinical inflammation. In chapters 9 and 10 we explore some of the clinical implications of the MRI findings. Chapter 11 provides a summary of the thesis and a discussion of the main findings.

• MRI
• Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Arthralgia
• Synovitis
• Bone Marrow Edema
• Erosions

• All authors: Stomp, W.
• Supervisor: Bloem, J.L.
• Co-supervisor: Reijnierse, M.; Helm-van Mil, A.H.M. van der
• Committee: Bijlsma, J.W.J.; Heijde, D.M.F.M. van der; Huizinga, T.W.J.; Maas, M.; Nelissen, R.G.H.H.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden University
• Date: 2016-06-23
• ISBN (print): 9789461826770
• Sponsorship: Center for Translational Molecular Medicine and Dutch Arthritis Foundation, project TRACER (grant 04I-202)