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Reliability of Three Methods of Radiologic Assessment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

1995; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 30; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/00004424-199503000-00008

1536-0210

A. Guth, Joël Coste, S Chagnon, Pascal Lacombe, J B Paolaggi,

Radiology practices and education

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. To assess the intraobserver reliability of three methods used frequently to evaluate joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis: the Sharp method, the Larsen method, and the carpo:metacarpal ratio. METHODS. One observer analyzed twice within a 6-week interval 71 radiographs from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Reliability was estimated by intraclass correlation coefficient (R) and by Altman-Bland graphical method. Correlations were examined by the Spearman's coefficient (r). RESULTS. The intraobserver reliability of each method appeared satisfactory with a good result for the Sharp method (R = 0.97). The correlation was strong (r >0.80) between the results obtained by Sharp's and Larscn's methods and weaker between the results of the two former methods and the carpo: metacarpal ratio. CONCLUSIONS. Sharp's method should be used preferentially in studies evaluating the radiologic changes in rheumatoid arthritis over time, especially in clinical trials. The carpo:metacarpal ratio may be considered as a complementary method, when wrist destruction is of conceptual importance.