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Verweij N, Zwezerijnen G, Ter Wee M, de Jongh J, Yaqub M, van Schaardenburg D, Lammertsma A, Voskuyl A, Lems W, Boers M, van der Laken C. Early prediction of treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis by quantitative macrophage PET. RMD Open 2022; 8:rmdopen-2021-002108. [PMID: 35149604 PMCID: PMC8845317 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine whether macrophage positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging using (R)-[11C]PK11195 at 0 and 2 weeks is associated with clinical response at 13 weeks in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Whole-body (R)-[11C]PK11195 PET/CT scans were performed at baseline and after 2 weeks of COBRA-light (combination therapy of methotrexate and prednisone) treatment in 35 patients with clinically active early RA. Clinical assessment (Disease Activity Score of 44 joints (DAS44)) was performed at 0, 2 and 13 weeks of treatment. PET/CT scans were assessed visually by two blinded, experienced readers, and by calculating standardised uptake values (SUVs) for shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and hand and feet joints. Clinical and PET variables were compared using (multivariate) linear regression. Results 18 males and 17 females were included (baseline DAS44=3.2 ± 1.0). 171 out of 1470 joints were visually PET positive at baseline, decreasing to 100 joints after 2 weeks. In general, small feet joints showed the highest uptake at baseline, and the largest decrease after 2 weeks (Δ0-2). Neither baseline nor Δ0-2 PET measures correlated with DAS44 at 13 weeks. However, at 2 weeks, average SUV of the feet significantly correlated with DAS44 at 13 weeks (R2=0.14, p=0.04). In a multivariable model, DAS44 and average SUV of the feet at 2 weeks showed substantial combined predictive value (combined R2=0.297, p<0.01). Conclusion Quantitative macrophage PET assessment of feet joints, together with DAS44, after 2 weeks of COBRA light treatment in patients with early RA correlates with clinical response after 3 months of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicki Verweij
- Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gerben Zwezerijnen
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Ter Wee
- Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jerney de Jongh
- Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maqsood Yaqub
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Adriaan Lammertsma
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandre Voskuyl
- Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Lems
- Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Boers
- Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Conny van der Laken
- Department of Rheumatology, Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Gent YYJ, Ter Wee MM, Voskuyl AE, den Uyl D, Ahmadi N, Dowling C, van Kuijk C, Hoekstra OS, Boers M, Lems WF, van der Laken CJ. Subclinical synovitis detected by macrophage PET, but not MRI, is related to short-term flare of clinical disease activity in early RA patients: an exploratory study. Arthritis Res Ther 2015; 17:266. [PMID: 26403667 PMCID: PMC4582930 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-015-0770-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Residual subclinical synovitis can still be present in joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients despite clinical remission and has been linked to ongoing radiological damage. The aim of the present study was to assess subclinical synovitis by positron emission tomography (PET; macrophage tracer (11)C-(R)-PK11195) in early RA patients with minimal disease activity without clinically apparent synovitis (MDA); and its relationship with clinical outcome and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), respectively. METHODS Baseline PET and MRI of hands/wrists were performed in 25 early MDA RA patients (DAS 44 < 1.6; no tender/swollen joints) on combined DMARD therapy. PET tracer uptake (semi-quantitative score: 0-3) and MRI synovitis and bone marrow edema (OMERACT RAMRIS) were assessed in MCP, PIP and wrist joints (22 joints/patient; cumulative score). RESULTS Eleven of 25 patients (44 %) showed enhanced tracer uptake in ≥ 1 joint. Fourteen of these 25 (56 %) patients developed a flare within 1 year: 8/11 (73 %) with a positive, and 6/14 (43 %) with a negative PET. In the latter, in 5/6 patients flare was located outside the scan region. Median cumulative PET scores of patients with a subsequent flare in the hands or wrists were significantly higher than those of patients without a flare (1.5 [IQR 0.8-5.3] vs 0.0 [IQR 0.0-1.0], p = 0.04); significance was lost when all flares were considered (1.0 [IQR 0.0-4.0] vs 0.0 [IQR 0.0-1.0], p = 0.10). No difference in cumulative MRI scores was observed between both groups. CONCLUSIONS Positive PET scans were found in almost half of early RA patients with MDA. Patients with a subsequent flare in hand or wrist had higher cumulative PET scores but not MRI scores, suggesting that subclinical arthritis on PET may predict clinical flare in follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoony Y J Gent
- Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, PO Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands.
| | - Marieke M Ter Wee
- Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, PO Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands.
| | - Alexandre E Voskuyl
- Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, PO Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands.
| | - Debby den Uyl
- Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, PO Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands.
| | - Nazanin Ahmadi
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands.
| | - Cristina Dowling
- Department of Rheumatology, Jan van Breemen Research Institute
- Reade, Amsterdam, dr. Jan van Breemenstraat 2, Amsterdam, 1056, AB, The Netherlands.
| | - Cornelis van Kuijk
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands.
| | - Otto S Hoekstra
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands.
| | - Maarten Boers
- Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, PO Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands. .,Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands.
| | - Willem F Lems
- Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, PO Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands.
| | - Conny J van der Laken
- Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, PO Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1081, HV, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is ideal for imaging the joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. It produces anatomically detailed images of bone, cartilage, tendons and synovial membrane. It can reveal structural damage, in the form of bone erosion, cartilage thinning and/or tendon rupture, and regions of inflammation, using sequences that reveal water content and vascularity. MRI synovitis, tenosynovitis and bone oedema/osteitis all have prognostic significance, and MRI studies of RA have helped elucidate the mechanisms whereby bone and synovial inflammation lead to joint damage. Bone oedema/osteitis has become an important imaging biomarker, and can be used to help predict progression from undifferentiated arthritis to definite RA. Recent MRI studies have confirmed that subclinical inflammation is often present in patients in clinical remission, and these data may affect disease management. Finally, recent clinical trials are reviewed, in which MRI outcome measures are being established as sensitive response markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona M McQueen
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Rd, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand,
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