Abstract #0062

Rajagopal A, Graham T, Dardzinski B

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common form of arthritis in children. The inflamed synovium can be quantified with contrast enhanced MR imaging. Twenty children with JRA were enrolled in this study and were scanned during three visits (initial scan, 3 months and 1 year). Subjects had different JRA subtypes and duration of disease. Treatments during the course of the study included NSAI?s, methotrexate, etanercept, and intra-articular corticosteroids. MR derived synovial volumes in the knees were significantly correlated with both clinical and laboratory outcome measures. The synovial volume declined following treatment while the clinical symptoms improved.