Role of high sensitivity C-reactive protein and bone scintigraphy in the assessment of erosive osteoarthritis of the hand

ABSTRACT

To investigate the role of serum C reactive protein [CRP] as a marker of erosive osteoarthritis [EOA] of the hand. sixty patients, 40 with EOA and 20 with non-EOA of the hand, were included in the study and analyzed for radiographic score [RS], number of erosions, and joint count [JC] at clinical observation and at bone scintigraphy. CRP was assayed in a serum sample by a highly sensitive immunonephelometric method. The median [interquartile range] CRP level was 4.7 [2.4-6.9] mg/l in the EOA and 2.1 [0.5-4.9] mg/l in the non-EOA group [p = 0.001]. In all patients, CRP correlated with RS [p<0.001], and mainly with JC at clinical observation [p<0.001] and at bone scintigraphy [p<0.001]. The correlation of CRP with RS and JC was confirmed at clinical observation and at bone scintigraphy in the EOA subgroup, but only with JC at clinical observation in the non-EOA subgroup. CRP levels are higher in EOA than in non-EOA patients. These levels probably reflect the disease activity of EOA, as suggested by correlations between CRP and JC at clinical observation and at bone scintigraphy