The Effect of Biannual Monitoring With Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), X-ray, or Usual Care on Treatment for Inflammatory Arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis is a major cause of permanent joint damage. Joint damage causes functional disability and physical deformity. Many inflammatory arthritis patients develop permanent joint damage within the first two years of disease. Early, aggressive treatment with drugs called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is known to reduce how quickly this damage occurs. Sometimes, however, even when patients' symptoms are under control, the disease continues to cause joint damage. This study will determine if magnetic resonance imaging (also known as 'MRI') conducted every six months provides arthritis specialists with information to help them better treat peripheral inflammatory arthritis patients over the first two years of care. The effect of MRI will be compared to 1) the use of x-ray every six months; and, 2) the frequency at which these tests are usually used. The study will also determine if differences in treatment between the three groups result in differences in the well-being of patients. A total of 186 patients with early signs of inflammatory arthritis will be studied. All participants will have an MRI and x-ray conducted every six months. One-third of participants (62 in total) will only have MRI information sent to their arthritis specialist (MRI group); 62 will have x-ray information sent (X-ray group); and, the remaining 62 will have x-ray information sent only when ordered by the arthritis specialist (Usual Care group). Negative disease progression reports will be sent to the arthritis specialist unless intervention allocation-specific disease progression is detected. In which case, a report blinded to imaging modality will be sent indicating the detection of disease progression relative to the last timepoint of progression, or baseline, as applicable. At any point in the study, the arthritis specialist can request a clinical MRI or x-ray for any participant. Neither the participants nor their doctors will know to which group they are