Biologic agents (BAs) enabled not only a reduction of disease activity but also a slowing down of structural damage to the joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the incidence of cervical lesions in patients with RA is still high.
To elucidate the predictors for the progression of two different cervical lesions in patients with RA under BA treatment.
Of 151 subjects who received more than two years of continuous BA treatment, 101 subjects who had cervical X-ray images taken at baseline and final visit were enrolled. The mean disease duration and mean radiography interval were 10.6 years and 4.4 years, respectively. The existence and progression of cervical lesions (atlanto-axial subluxation [AAS], vertical subluxation [VS], and subaxial subluxation [SS]) were investigated. And predictors for the AAS or VS progression were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis.
The incidence of cervical lesions at baseline were no pre-existing cervical lesion (none) in 50 cases (50%), AAS only in 32 (32%), both AAS and VS in 12 (12%), and VS only in 7 cases (7%). In the none group, only 4 cases of AAS progression (8%) was observed during the follow-up. In contrast, in the groups with pre-existing cervical lesions, a high incidence of VS progression was observed (63% in the AAS only group, 58% in the AAS + VS group, and 71% in the VS only group). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the DAS-CRP value at baseline (odds ratio [OR] = 9.23) and matrix metaloprotease-3 level at baseline (OR = 1.01) were significant predictors for the progression of AAS, and pre-existing AAS (OR = 18.38) was a sole significant predictor for the progression of VS.
Cervical lesions progressed irrespective of disease activity after AAS development. Strict disease control before the development of AAS is crucial for preventing further progression and development of cervical lesions.