Clinical features of patients with hands arthralgia referred from primary care physicians to rheumatologists: A cohort study.

PURPOSE: Early referral of patients with suspicious of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has an impact on prognosis. Our study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with hands arthralgia who were referred from primary care physicians (PCP) to the rheumatologist. METHODS: A descriptive, observational, prospective cohort study was performed. We included patients who visited a PCP for the first time for hands arthralgia. Demographics and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology criteria for arthralgia suspicious for progression to RA plus seven complementary questions, the time to referral, the pressure needed to provoke pain with an automatic squeeze test machine in the metacarpophalangeal joints of both hands, and the diagnoses established at the last review of medical charts from patients on follow-up were documented. The primary outcome was the referral to a rheumatologist. RESULTS: A total of 109 patients were included. The mean age was 49.9 years, 81.6% were women. 30.3% were referred to the rheumatologist. The time to referral was a median of 38 days. The main clinical characteristics associated with referral to the rheumatologist were the "most severe symptoms are present after midnight" (OR=6.29) and the "difficulty with making a fist" (OR=3.67). An isolated "positive squeeze test of metacarpophalangeal joints" was not associated with a referral to the rheumatologist. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with hands arthralgia who attended PCP, those with most severe symptoms after midnight and difficulty making a fist were more likely to be referred to the rheumatology clinic. Isolated positive squeeze tests are not a parameter for referral, it should only be performed if arthralgia is clinically suspected.

Clinical features of patients with hands arthralgia referred from primary care physicians to rheumatologists: A cohort study / Características clínicas de los pacientes con artralgia de manos que son referidos a la clínica de reumatología por médicos de atención primaria: un estudio de cohorte

Purpose: Early referral of patients with suspicious of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has an impact on prognosis. Our study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with hands arthralgia who were referred from primary care physicians (PCP) to the rheumatologist.Methods: A descriptive, observational, prospective cohort study was performed. We included patients who visited a PCP for the first time for hands arthralgia. Demographics and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology criteria for arthralgia suspicious for progression to RA plus seven complementary questions, the time to referral, the pressure needed to provoke pain with an automatic squeeze test machine in the metacarpophalangeal joints of both hands, and the diagnoses established at the last review of medical charts from patients on follow-up were documented. The primary outcome was the referral to a rheumatologist. Results: A total of 109 patients were included. The mean age was 49.9 years, 81.6% were women. 30.3% were referred to the rheumatologist. The time to referral was a median of 38 days. The main clinical characteristics associated with referral to the rheumatologist were the “most severe symptoms are present after midnight” (OR=6.29) and the “difficulty with making a fist” (OR=3.67). An isolated “positive squeeze test of metacarpophalangeal joints” was not associated with a referral to the rheumatologist. Conclusions: Among patients with hands arthralgia who attended PCP, those with most severe symptoms after midnight and difficulty making a fist were more likely to be referred to the rheumatology clinic. Isolated positive squeeze tests are not a parameter for referral, it should only be performed if arthralgia is clinically suspected.(AU)

Objetivo: Derivar tempranamente a los pacientes con sospecha de artritis reumatoide (AR) tiene un impacto en su pronóstico. Nuestro estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar las características clínicas de los pacientes con artralgia de manos que fueron remitidos desde médicos de atención primaria (MAP) al reumatólogo. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de cohorte descriptivo, observacional, y prospectivo. Incluimos pacientes que acudieron con un MAP por artralgia de manos. Se documentaron criterios demográficos y de la European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) para artralgia con sospecha de progresión a AR más siete preguntas complementarias, el tiempo de derivación, la presión necesaria para provocar dolor con una máquina automática que comprime las articulaciones metacarpofalángicas, y los diagnósticos establecidos en la última revisión documentados en los expedientes médicos de los pacientes en seguimiento. El resultado principal fue la referencia al reumatólogo. Resultados: Un total de 109 pacientes fueron incluidos. El promedio de edad fue de 49,9 años, 81,6% fueron mujeres, 30,3% fueron referidos al reumatólogo. El tiempo de derivación al reumatólogo tuvo una mediana de 38 días. Las principales características clínicas asociadas con lo anterior fueron: «síntomas más severos presentes después de la medianoche» (OR=6,29) y «dificultad para hacer un puño» (OR=3,67). Una «prueba de compresión positiva de las articulaciones metacarpofalángicas» aislada no se asoció con una derivación al reumatólogo. Conclusión: Entre los pacientes que acudieron con MAP por artralgia de manos, aquellos con síntomas más severos después de la medianoche y que refirieron dificultad para realizar un puño fueron más frecuentemente referidos a una clínica de reumatología. Sin embargo, una prueba de compresión aislada no fue útil para la derivación temprana.(AU)

Bone erosions by MRI in first-degree relatives of patients with RA: an exploratory study.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: First-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of RA diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been proposed as a useful tool to detect subclinical synovitis and bone abnormalities as predictors of progression to RA. The presence of grade ≥ 2 bone erosions in RA MRI scoring system (RAMRIS) was reported to be RA-specific. We aim to describe the prevalence and characteristics of MRI findings in RA patients and FDR. METHODS: A cross-sectional and exploratory study of 60 individuals was performed in 38 RA patients and 22 FDR with hand arthralgia without clinical arthritis and positive rheumatoid factor or anticitrullinated protein antibodies. All patients underwent an MRI and were evaluated for synovitis, bone erosion, and bone marrow edema. We evaluated second to fifth metacarpophalangeal joints of the dominant hand according to RAMRIS. RESULTS: Among the total population, eighteen (30%) subjects had grade ≥ 2 bone erosions, and 42 (70%) had at least one erosion of any grade. In patients with grade ≥ 2 bone erosions, 12 (31.6%) were from RA patients and 6 (27.2%) from FDR (p = 0.72). In patients with erosions of any grade, 26 (68.4%) were from RA patients and 15 (68.2%) were from FDR (p = 0.98). CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of bone erosions was found in RA patients' FDR who had symptoms without clinical arthritis and positive serology. MRI might be helpful in this population for an early detection of RA-specific erosions. The prognosis and the treatment decisions in these subjects should be elucidated. KEY POINTS: • First-degree relatives (FDR) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with positive serology and joint symptoms constitute a select subpopulation of individuals with an increased risk of developing RA. • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of FDR shows a high prevalence of bone erosions of any grade, grade ≥ 2 erosions, and synovitis. • MRI might be helpful in FDR of RA patients to screen for the presence of RA-specific erosions or clinically undetectable synovitis.