Magnetic resonance Imaging (mri) of cervical spine in adult and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of this study was to evaluate atlanto-axial and sub-axial joints affection by MRI, and to correlate these findings with clinical, some laboratory data and plain X-ray in RA patients and polyarticular JRA.The Study included 54 Subjects. They were classified into three groups:Group I: It included 15 patients with RA, 2males (13.3%) and 13 females (86.7%), their ages ranged from 25 to 60 years with a mean  S.D of 41.7  8.3 years. The duration of the disease ranged from 5 to 18 years with a mean  S.D of 9.4  4.2 years. All Patients were diagnosed according to A.R.A. criteria.Group II: It included 15 patients with polyarticular JRA, 4 males (26.7%) and 11 Females (73.3%), their ages ranged from 5 to 30 years with a mean  S.D of 15.9  6.9 years. The duration of disease ranged from 2 to 22 years with a mean  S.D of 7.8  5.5. All patients were diagnosed according to A.C.R. criteria.Group III: It included 24 apparently healthy volunteers, divided into: