Behavior of the synovial vascular pattern of patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Keywords:
rheumatoid arthritis, activity, vascular morphology.Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disabling disease. Objective: To identify whether there is an association between synovial vascular patterns and overall disease activity in patients with RA. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2008 to July 2012. The universe consisted of 136 patients with RA who had persistent pain and inflammation in a single joint for more than 3 months and who underwent arthroscopy. Results and Discussion: The mean age was 52.4 years, 89 (84%) were female, 69 (65%) were white, and the mean time of evolution was 20.5 years. Women had a higher frequency of moderate and high activity with statistically significant differences p < 0.018. Vasa recta was more frequent in women, the difference with men was statistically significant p = 0.026. The presence of fibrin was significantly associated with the presence of vasa recta (p=0.028). The presence of vasa recta was associated with moderate and high disease activity levels (p=0.012). Conclusions: Female sex and the presence of vasa recta were associated in patients with active RA. The rectus vascular pattern is associated with macroscopic features of the synovium that denote activity, such as the presence of fibrin and glove-like images. It was also more frequently associated with moderate and high levels of activity according to the Simplified RA Activity Index.
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