Rheumatoid atlantoaxial subluxation can be prevented by intensive use of traditional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the 5-year incidence of cervical spine disorders in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated by 2 different disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) strategies.


METHODS
In a national, multicenter, prospective FIN-RACo-trial, a cohort of 199 patients with early, clinically active RA was randomly assigned to treatment with a combination of 3 DMARD and prednisolone (Combi group) or with a single DMARD (Single group) with or without prednisolone, aiming to induce remission. After 2 years, the DMARD therapy was unrestricted. Lateral view cervical spine radiographs during full flexion and extension were taken at the 5-year followup visits. The presence of anterior atlantoaxial subluxation (aAAS), atlantoaxial impaction (AAI), and subaxial subluxation (SAS) was assessed in the 149 patients with radiographs available (80 Single and 69 Combi).


RESULTS
At the 5-year visits, aAAS, AAI, and SAS were found in 13 (9%), 6 (4%), and 9 (6%) patients, respectively. The corresponding Single/Combi group ratios were 11/2, 5/1, and 5/4. Of the baseline data, only poor physical function [Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ); p = 0.024] and Single treatment strategy (p = 0.019) were significantly associated with aAAS. Worse HAQ scores and Disease Activity Score 28 values were found in patients who developed aAAS during the 5-year followup.


CONCLUSION
RA patients with sustained clinical disease activity and poor HAQ are at increased risk of developing aAAS. The development of aAAS during the first 5 years of RA was rare among the patients treated with a combination of DMARD for at least 2 years from the diagnosis. Intensive treatment with traditional DMARD prevents or retards the development of aAAS in patients with recent-onset RA.