Quantitative microfocal radiography detects changes in erosion area in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis treated with myocrisine.

Patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were randomly divided into those receiving gold early (n = 13) or 6 months later (n = 10). They were followed 6 monthly over 18 months. Mean erosion area in gold and delayed gold, measured from macroradiographs, was comparable at baseline and increased significantly over the first 6 months. In the second 6 months, gold showed no increase and delayed gold an insignificant increase. By the third 6 months both groups showed a decrease. On comparing the second 6 months of gold therapy in gold and delayed gold with a group of patients with RA of similar disease duration (n = 34) not receiving gold, a lower proportion (p < 0.005) had erosion area progression and a higher proportion (p < 0.001) erosion repair.