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

• Main Authors: Paweł Żuchowski, Marzena Waszczak-Jeka, Szymon Kudlicki, Sławomir Jeka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Termedia Publishing House 2019-02-01
• Series: Rheumatology
• Subjects: ultrasonography; rheumatoid arthritis; fluorescence; medical diagnostics
• Online Access: https://www.termedia.pl/The-rheumatoid-hand-in-the-light-of-fluorescence-a-diagnostic-technique-of-the-future-,18,35942,1,1.html

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.