PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Kortekaas, Marion C AU - Kwok, Wing-Yee AU - Reijnierse, Monique AU - Watt, Iain AU - Huizinga, Tom W J AU - Kloppenburg, Margreet TI - Pain in hand osteoarthritis is associated with inflammation: the value of ultrasound AID - 10.1136/ard.2009.124875 DP - 2010 Jul 01 TA - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases PG - 1367--1369 VI - 69 IP - 7 4099 - http://ard.bmj.com/content/69/7/1367.short 4100 - http://ard.bmj.com/content/69/7/1367.full SO - Ann Rheum Dis2010 Jul 01; 69 AB - Objectives To investigate the association of ultrasound (US) features—grey scale (GS) synovitis, synovial thickening, effusion and power Doppler signal (PDS)—with symptoms in hand osteoarthritis (HOA). Methods Fifty-five consecutive patients (mean age 62 years, 87% women) with HOA, fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology criteria, were assessed for pain upon palpation and filled in Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Index (AUSCAN) scores, visual analogue scale pain and Short Form-36 (SF-36). US was performed in all metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, distal interphalangeal, first interphalangeal and first carpometacarpal joints, and features were semiquantitatively scored (0–3). Generalised estimating equations were used to calculate OR (95% CI) for the association between US features and pain per joint adjusted for relevant confounders. The association between US features summated scores and self-reported outcomes was studied by linear regression analysis. Results GS synovitis, effusion, synovial thickening and PDS were shown in 96%, 91%, 73% and 86% of patients, respectively. US features were dose-dependently associated with pain upon palpation (OR 4.5 (95% CI 2.2 to 9.0), 4.4 (2.0 to 9.4), 4.9 (2.2 to 11.0) and 4.1 (2.2 to 7.9)). GS synovitis was associated with AUSCAN pain, stiffness and SF-36, and effusion with AUSCAN pain. Conclusions GS synovitis, effusion, synovial thickening and PDS are associated with pain in HOA, suggesting a role for inflammation. Further follow-up studies are warranted.