Snekhalatha U, Anburajan M, Venkatraman B, Menaka M
Department of Biomedical Engineering, SRM University, 603203 Kattankulathur, Chennai, India.
Z Rheumatol. 2013 May;72(4):375-82. doi: 10.1007/s00393-012-1083-8.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the progression of arthritis in a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced Wistar rat model and to monitor inflammatory arthritis activity using thermal imaging compared with histopathology.
Fifteen adult male Wistar rats were studied in an adjuvant-induced arthritis model by the injection of complete Freund's adjuvant in the right hind limb and right forelimb, respectively, with the left limbs used as controls. Thermal image analysis based on skin temperature measurement, radiographic analysis based on erosion, limb circumference measurement, and histopathological evaluation were performed.
The average skin temperature difference on the arthritis-induced side and control for both the forelimb and hind limb were found to be 1.09 °C and 0.98 °C, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that skin surface temperature was positively correlated with the arthritis severity score (forelimb: r = 0.64, hind limb: r = 0.66, p < 0.05).A significant correlation also existed between thermal imaging temperature and visual scoring of X-ray (forelimb: r = 0.56, hind limb: r = 0.67, p < 0.05).
Thermal imaging measurements correlated with arthritis severity score, radiological score, and ankle diameters. Hence, thermography could be used to diagnose and analyze inflammatory activity of arthritis at the preclinical stage.
本研究旨在评估完全弗氏佐剂（CFA）诱导的Wistar大鼠模型中关节炎的进展情况，并与组织病理学相比，利用热成像监测炎性关节炎的活动。
在佐剂诱导的关节炎模型中，对15只成年雄性Wistar大鼠分别在右后肢和右前肢注射完全弗氏佐剂，以左肢作为对照。进行基于皮肤温度测量的热图像分析、基于侵蚀的放射学分析、肢体周长测量和组织病理学评估。
发现前肢和后肢关节炎诱导侧与对照侧的平均皮肤温度差分别为1.09℃和0.98℃。Pearson相关分析显示，皮肤表面温度与关节炎严重程度评分呈正相关（前肢：r = 0.64，后肢：r = 0.66，p < 0.05）。热成像温度与X线视觉评分之间也存在显著相关性（前肢：r = 0.56，后肢：r = 0.67，p < 0.05）。
热成像测量结果与关节炎严重程度评分、放射学评分和踝关节直径相关。因此，热成像可用于在临床前阶段诊断和分析关节炎的炎症活动。
