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Assessment of inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis: a comparative study of clinical evaluation with grey scale and power Doppler ultrasonography

E Naredo¹, G Bonilla¹, F Gamero¹, J Uson¹, L Carmona², A Laffon¹

¹ Department of Rheumatology, Hospital de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain
² Research Unit, Hospital de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr E Naredo
Calle Arturo Soria 259, 4° A, 28033 Madrid, Spain; esnaredo{at}eresmas.com

Objective: To compare the clinical assessment of overall inflammatory activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with grey scale and power Doppler (PD) ultrasonography (US).

Methods: Ninety four consecutive patients with RA were included. Demographic and clinical data, C reactive protein (CRP) level, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were recorded for each patient. The presence of tenderness, swelling, and a subjective swelling score from 1 to 3 were independently assessed by two rheumatologists, who reached a consensus in 60 joints examined in each patient. All patients underwent a US examination by a third blinded rheumatologist, using PD. US joint effusion, synovitis, and PD signal were graded from 1 to 3 in the 60 joints. Joint count and joint index for effusion, synovitis, and PD signal were recorded. A 28 joint count for clinical and US variables was calculated. Interobserver reliability of the US examination was evaluated by a fourth blinded rheumatologist.

Results: US showed significantly more joints with effusion (mean 15.2) and synovitis (mean 14.6) than clinical examination (mean 11.5, p<0.05). A significant correlation was found between joint count and joint index for swelling, US effusion, synovitis, and PD signal. The 28 joint count for effusion, synovitis, and PD signal correlated highly with the corresponding 60 joint counts. US findings correlated better with CRP and ESR than clinical measures. Interobserver reliability was better for US findings than for clinical assessment.

Conclusion: US is a sensitive method for assessing joint inflammatory activity in RA, complementary to clinical evaluation.

Abbreviations: CRP, C reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; MCP, metacarpophalangeal; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PD, power Doppler; PIP, proximal interphalangeal; PRF, pulse repetition frequency; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SJC, swollen joint count; SJI, swollen joint index; TJC, tender joint count; US, ultrasonography; VASOA, visual analogue scale for patient overall assessment of disease activity; VASP, global pain intensity visual analogue scale

Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis; ultrasonography; power Doppler

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