Disease activity and the course of wrist joint deterioration over 10 years in the patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the course of radiographic deterioration of the wrist joint with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to determine the influence of disease activity on its deterioration. A retrospective study was performed on 122 wrists in 66 patients, who started treatment using disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs within the first year of the disease and followed for more than 10 years without surgical intervention. The mean disease activity score (DAS28-CRP[3]) was high during the first 2 years, followed by a decrease and a flattening of the curve of disease activity. Generally, carpal collapse progressed more in the early stage and decreased linearly over 10 years. Individually, continuous high disease activity and progression in radiographic damage were observed in carpal collapsed groups from early stage of the disease. The cut-off values of the mean DAS28-CRP(3) during year 0–2, which indicated progression to Larsen grade III or more and Schulthess type I (ankylosis) or III (disintegration) at year 10 were 3.34 (sensitivity: 70.9% and specificity: 72.1%) and 3.63 (sensitivity: 74.3% and specificity: 77.0%), respectively. In patients with RA, deterioration of the wrist joint was influenced by disease activity. Identifying this activity and the course of wrist progression may be useful in predicting wrist deterioration.