Remissionplus, An Initiative To Integrate Modern Imaging Into Rheumatologic Care - Review, Appraisal And Outlook: Evaluation Of Low-Field Mri Data

Imaging plays a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment control of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since 2006, the initiative REMISSIONPLUS has aimed to implement modern imaging tools like arthrosonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) into the routine clinical practice of rheumatologists. In addition to training sessions (over 3000 rheumatologists in over200 sessions), numerous sonography and MRI studies have been conducted to assess the value of these techniques fortreatment control in RA. The following study summarises the results of the low-field MRI-studies. The results of this multicenter study demonstrate that low-field MRI is a comfortable examination for RA patients and enables rheumatologists to effectively and very carefully monitortreatment outcomes (DMARDs, biologics). MRI data significantly correlate with clinical and laboratory parameters. In addition, this method allows clinicians to detect subclinical indicators for arthritis as well as advancing radiological progression despite clinical remission ("silent progression"). These findings cannot be obtained in conventional X-rays. The use of MRI thus provides new insights into the pathogenesis and will consecutively deliver new informations for RA management. The assessment of these advantages and the benefits for patients in daily clinical routine need to be further examined and discussed in future studies.