The rheumatoid hand in the light of fluorescence: a diagnostic technique of the future?

Abstract

Fluorescence spectroscopy is usually applied in physics, chemistry and related sciences. However, in recent years we can observe a growing interest in fluorescence spectroscopy for medical diagnostics. Currently, it is beginning to be used in the monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity. As the knowledge on RA increases, growing importance is being placed on the evaluation of synovitis. Today, it is difficult to imagine contemporary rheumatology without ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, it turns out that these are not the only methods allowing one to visualise subclinical lesions, particularly synovitis. Fluorescence optical imaging (FOI) is also useful for the evaluation of inflammatory lesions in the joints. In the future, FOI may become competitive with “traditional” imaging studies. It is characterised by low cost, short duration and similar sensitivity to US.

Systematic review of imaging tests to predict the development of rheumatoid arthritis in people with unclassified arthritis

“…Musculoskeletal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can identify joint inflammation and structural changes even in those with normal radiographs 20–23 and are increasingly used in clinical practice 24 or for research purposes 25 . Positron emission tomography (PET) 26 27 and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) 28 are also being investigated in RA, along with novel approaches such as fluorescence optical imaging 29–32 and optical spectral transmission imaging 33 34 .…”