Should modern imaging be part of remission criteria in rheumatoid arthritis?

Abstract

With recent improvements in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), remission has become an achievable goal for a large proportion of RA patients, and remission is now a defined target in current RA guidelines. However, studies have shown that progression of radiographic joint damage may occur in clinical remission, regardless of the choice of remission definition. Sub-clinical inflammation detected by modern imaging techniques such as ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging is present in the majority of patients in clinical remission, and is associated with progressive joint damage and disease activity flare in these patients. This chapter aims to assess the importance of imaging findings in RA patients in clinical remission and to discuss the possible role of modern imaging in future remission criteria.