Volume 21, Issue 3
DOI: 10.53555/03276716.2012.01
Correlation of MRI Knee Findings with Serum Uric Acid Levels in Patients with Gouty Arthritis
Abstract
Introduction: Gouty arthritis is characterized by monosodium urate crystal deposition in joints, with the knee being the second most commonly affected site. While the relationship between hyperuricemia and gout is well-established, the correlation between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and the extent of structural joint damage remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between specific knee joint MRI findings and serum uric acid (SUA) levels in patients with gouty arthritis.
Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital over six months, enrolling 60 patients with established gouty arthritis of the knee. All patients underwent a clinical assessment, measurement of serum uric acid (SUA) levels, and an MRI of the affected knee using a standardized protocol. MRI scans were independently evaluated by two radiologists blinded to clinical and laboratory data. Correlation between SUA levels and MRI parameters was assessed using appropriate statistical methods.
Results: The mean SUA level was 8.4 ± 2.1 mg/dL, with 86.7% of patients having hyperuricemia. The most common MRI findings were synovial hypertrophy (86.7%), joint effusion (80.0%), and cartilage loss (70.0%). Strong positive correlations were observed between SUA levels and total tophus volume (r = 0.71), maximum tophus diameter (r = 0.68), and synovial thickness (r = 0.64). Multiple regression analysis identified SUA level as the strongest independent predictor of tophus burden (standardized ? = 0.52, p < 0.001), followed by disease duration (? = 0.34, p = 0.002).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates a strong correlation between SUA levels and multiple MRI findings in gouty arthritis of the knee, with the strongest associations observed for tophus volume and synovial thickness. These findings provide imaging-based evidence supporting current therapeutic guidelines that recommend treating to target serum uric acid (SUA) levels below 6 mg/dL.
Keywords
Gouty arthritis, Magnetic resonance imaging, Serum uric acid, Tophus, Knee joint