Publication:
Six-joint ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis: a feasible approach for implementing ultrasound in remission

Placeholder

Departments

Organizational Unit

School / College / Institute

Organizational Unit
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Upper Org Unit

Program

KU Authors

Co-Authors

Aydin, S. Z.
Gunal, E. K.
Ozata, M.
Keskin, H.
Emery, P.
D'Agostino, M. A.

Publication Date

Language

Embargo Status

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Alternative Title

Abstract

Objective. Subclinical disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) detected by imaging methods is predictive for flares and damage. Lack of time is the major limitation for not screening for subclinical disease in routine practice. We aimed to determine the most feasible protocol to screen patients with no clinical disease activity by ultrasound (US). Methods. A hundred consecutive RA patients with no clinical activity according to the physician had an US scan for 38 joints. The prevalence of power Doppler (PD) signal in each joint was determined and different combinations of joints were assessed for their ability to capture this information. The most practical combination with a good sensitivity was tested in another group of 50 RA patients. Results. Having any PD signal was not linked to the disease activity parameters whereas presence of PD of >= 2 was associated with higher DAS28CRP. Sixty patients had at least one joint with PD of grade >= 2 (60%). A combination of the wrists and 2nd-3rd MCP joints bilaterally (PD-6 joints) was able to detect 45/60 (75%) cases with PD signals and 45% of the whole patient population. The correlation between PD-38 and PD-6 joints was excellent (r=0.820, p<0.0001). PD-6 joints in the 2nd cohort was also able to detect 22/50 (44%) of the whole group. Conclusion. Subclinical disease activity could be detected in 60% of RA patients when 38 joints screened by US. Limiting the screening to wrists, 2nd-3rd MCPs bilaterally was acceptable as it detected 75% of cases with subclinical disease and increased the feasibility.

Source

Publisher

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology S.A.S.

Subject

Rheumatology

Citation

Has Part

Source

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology

Book Series Title

Edition

DOI

item.page.datauri

Link

Rights

Copyrights Note

Endorsement

Review

Supplemented By

Referenced By

0

Views

0

Downloads