A new study published in Scientific Reports highlights that thermal imaging cameras can become an important tool for rheumatoid arthritis and its assessment. The results of the study with 82 participants confirmed that both palms and fingers show a significant increase in temperature in patients. A subset of subjects underwent diagnostic ultrasonography by a trained rheumatologist. In this way, they wanted to ensure that the recruited participants did not have active signs of synovial inflammation in their hands and wrists.
Better assess rheumatoid arthritis
Researchers and doctors believe that the inflammation warms the tissues of the hands. A thermal imaging device can absorb the heat accordingly. Rheumatoid arthritis is notoriously difficult to diagnose. There are no accurate tests that definitively prove the presence of this condition.
Associate Professor Cynthia Formosa, co-author of the study, said: “This is the first study to examine thermographic patterns of patients with joint disease and compare them with healthy controls. “Our results clearly showed that a diseased hand has higher temperatures compared to healthy people.”
The University of Malta team, visiting fellows at Staffordshire University, tested ultrasound and thermal imaging cameras on more than 80 volunteers. Almost half of the patients (31) had rheumatoid arthritis, while the other 51 had healthy joints.
People with temperatures above 31.5°C were more likely to develop such an illness than people with cooler hands. The researchers found the same thing with finger temperatures. This was the case even when sonography, which provides images of the tissue, was used as an alternative diagnostic tool. So she found no signs of illness.
New perspectives for diagnosis
The researchers believe the temperature difference could be the result of underlying disease activity. This is like a mild swelling in the tissue (synovitis) that may not cause any symptoms. The elevated temperature could also persist even after a patient no longer experiences symptoms, they added.
Rheumatoid arthritis often causes swelling, pain and stiffness. This makes it difficult to carry out daily activities such as walking or climbing stairs. There is still no cure for such conditions, although treatments help slow them down. The team hopes their findings will help doctorsto prevent arthritisand diagnose early by promoting thermal imaging devices.
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