Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involving the cervical spine can lead to various neurologic defects and impairment of proprioception is just one of them. The aim of this study was the assessment of cervical proprioception and its relation with radiographic, clinical, and functional characteristics of patients with RA. One hundred and six rheumatoid arthritis patients who diagnosed according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria and age, gender, educational status matched one hundred and six healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Cervical joint position error test (CJPET) was applied to healthy volunteers and RA patients for cervical proprioception assessment. Fatigue, depression, balance, quality of life and balance scales were administered to all patients. Cervical radiography was used to assess cervical subluxations. Regression analysis was used for grading the factors which had relations with cervical proprioception. Mean age of patients and healthy volunteers was 51 ± 11.1 and 48.9 ± 9.2, respectively. Scores of CJPET were statistically significantly higher in RA group than healthy volunteers (p = 0.001). CJPET scores were negatively correlated with Berg balance scale findings in right rotation, left rotation, flexion and extension (rho = - 0.421,- 0.473,- 0.448,- 0.515). There was weak or not significant correlation between the scores of CJPET and fatigue, depression, and quality of life scales. Scores of CJPET in patients with atlantoaxial subluxations (AAS) were statistically significantly higher than those without AAS (p < 0.05). Regression analysis results showed that the AAS was related to impaired cervical proprioception on right and left rotations. There was no correlation between CJPET scores and functional parameters. Cervical proprioception impaired in RA patients. This impairment was related to the existence of AAS and balance problems.

中文翻译：

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类风湿关节炎患者的颈椎本体感觉损害。

涉及颈椎的类风湿关节炎（RA）可能导致各种神经系统缺陷，本体感受障碍只是其中之一。这项研究的目的是评估颈椎本体感受器及其与RA患者的影像学，临床和功能特征之间的关系。本研究纳入了根据2010年美国风湿病学院/欧洲风湿病联盟标准诊断出的106名类风湿关节炎患者，年龄，性别，受教育程度与106名健康志愿者相匹配。对健康志愿者和RA患者进行颈椎关节位置误差测试（CJPET），以评估颈椎本体感受。对所有患者进行疲劳，抑郁，平衡，生活质量和平衡量表。宫颈X线摄片用于评估宫颈半脱位。回归分析用于对与宫颈本体感受有关的因素进行分级。患者和健康志愿者的平均年龄分别为51±11.1和48.9±9.2。RA组的CJPET得分在统计学上显着高于健康志愿者（p = 0.001）。CJPET评分与Berg平衡量表在右旋，左旋，屈曲和伸展方面的得分呈负相关（rho =-0.421，-0.473，-0.448，-0.515）。CJPET评分与疲劳，抑郁和生活质量量表之间的相关性弱或不显着。患有寰枢椎半脱位（AAS）的患者的CJPET评分在统计学上显着高于无AAS的患者（p <0.05）。回归分析结果表明，AAS与左右旋转时颈椎本体感觉受损有关。CJPET评分与功能参数之间没有相关性。RA患者的宫颈本体感受受损。这种损害与AAS和平衡问题的存在有关。