Involvement of the manubrio-sternal articulation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Changes in the manubrio-sternal articulation (MSA) were examined radiologically in 87 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in a control group comprised of 23 patients with osteoarthritis and 72 subjects without joint disease. Erosions, reactive sclerosis and ankylosis were encountered in 70% of the rheumatoid arthritis group and in 27% of controls. There was no difference in the incidence of changes in persons with osteoarthritis and in the other control subjects.