Radiografía simple y artritis reumatoide. Lectura sistemática de la progresión radiológica y aplicaciones

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by a chronic inflammation of the joints which leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone. Plain film radiography is the standard method for evaluating disease progression and for establishing the efficacy of new disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD). Because of the importance of radiographic progression in determining long term outcomes, a standarized, systematic method to evaluate and quantify the amount and progression of radiographic damage caused by RA is desirable. An exhaustive review of the plain radiology in RA is presented and include: the different radiographic scoring methods and their disadvantages, the methods of reading films and the guidelines for presentation of results, the main clinical trials that evaluate disease progression and the efficacy of the different agents in the treatment of RA and the hypothesis that repair of structural damage can occurs.