Scoring System Reveals RA Patients’ Joint Damage Progression

Japanese scientists are trying to substantiate the Assessment of Rheumatoid Arthritis by Systemic Histological and Radiological Imaging, evaluating joint knee damage with the help of radiograph, since they found this method very effective in the assessment of progressive joint damage in patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and have to undergo anti-tumor necrosis therapy.

According to the press release of Isao Matsushita, MD, from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Toyama, Japan, “Radiographic damage is considered a functional disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Nowadays, radiographic joints damage is commonly assessed by Larsen grade, which has relevant limitations, including a ceiling effect within the grade. These fact explain the need for better scoring and assessment, without which, progression of damage can’t be evaluated and patient needs cannot be accurately determined.”