Affordable MRI Scan for Early Detection of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The LUMC has been conducting research into the early recognition of rheumatoid arthritis for decades. Van der Helm explains why this is important for the treatment of this chronic inflammatory joint disease: “The disease starts with inflammation in the hands and feet. Later, all other joints can also become inflamed and damaged. This causes chronic pain complaints, for which people need lifelong treatment. If we recognize and treat the disease earlier, the disease burden for patients is reduced and the duration of the disease can be shortened. People then continue to function better and can continue to work.’

Ordinary MRI scan too expensive

It has been known for years from research that making an MRI scan is a reliable way to detect joint inflammation at an early stage. “But an MRI scan is expensive and the equipment to make a scan is large and heavy. That is why the MRI scan is hardly used in daily practice for the detection of rheumatoid arthritis.”

Practical and affordable

To make the MRI scan more accessible to more patients, Van der Helm sought collaboration with Andrew Webb, professor of MRI physics. “He and his team are building a small, portable and affordable MRI scan for third world countries that can also be used to detect joint inflammation.”

Another important partner is Berend Stoel, assistant professor of Radiology at the Laboratory for Clinical and Experimental Imaging, who uses AI to automatically assess MRI scans. Van der Helm: “With a small portable MRI scan in combination with AI, we can also make scans possible outside the hospital in a practical way.”

Prevent chronic complaints

“In the past, many people with rheumatoid arthritis ended up in a wheelchair. Over the past 20 years, this has become much less common thanks to earlier diagnosis and better treatments. But it remains a chronic disease that affects people on a daily basis and leads to job loss. By discovering joint inflammation at an even earlier stage, we want to see how we can prevent chronic complaints and limitations as much as possible.”

LUMC Donation Investment Fund

Within this fund, donors offer support to promising research projects that can make good use of acceleration through funding. As soon as a project has successfully led to a product or treatment and can be introduced (on the market), the second phase begins. Those same donors, but also other interested parties, can then invest in a new one to be set up