EVALUATION OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: PREDICTIVE VALUE OF JOINT DESTRUCTION AND DISEASE ACTIVITY

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) cause poor cognitive functions including reduced memory, orientation and attention. The aim of the present study is to evaluate joint destruction and other parameters of disease as a predictor of cognitive functions in RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included forty five patients and forty healthy controls. Radiological progression score (≥0.5 the modified Sharp/ van der Heijde scores- MTSs), disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS-28) and disease activity score of 44 joints (DAS-44) were evaluated in patients with RA. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) were evaluated and the results were compared between patients and control groups to determinate cognitive functions. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of MMSE scores (p=0.003). There were no significant differences in terms of anxiety and depression levels between RA and control groups. MMSE score was correlated with disease duration (p=0.011, r=- 0.371), Sharp score (p=0.018, r=-0.350) and DAS-28 score (p=0.044, r=-0.296). Depression score was also correlated with DAS (p=0.004, r=0.425). No relationship was found between Rheumatoid factor levels, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide levels and the cognitive function tests. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that exposure to inflammatory mediators in patients with long standing RA may lead to deterioration on central nervous system as long as affecting joints. Cognitive deterioration was correlated with disease severity and joint destruction. Thus, the radiographic joint destruction can be a positive predictor of reflecting the extent of neuronal damage and cognitive deterioration during this chronic process in RA