Findings from imaging studies at baseline and 2 and 12 weeks after tocilizumab initiation
| Week 0 | Week 2 | Week 12 | p Value (week 0 vs week 2) | p Value (week 12 vs week 0) | p Value (week 12 vs week 2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PET-CT SUV max (hips) | n=19 6.35 (5.35–7.45) | n=15 5.30 (4.50–6.85) | n=16 4.85 (4.23–5.53) | 0.007 | <0.001 | 0.017 |
| PET-CT SUV max (shoulders) | n=18 5.80 (4.95–6.50) | n=14 5.48 (4.95–6.00) | n=16 4.95 (4.35–5.90) | 0.178 | 0.081 | 0.265 |
| US B mode (shoulders) 0–1 >1 | n=19 1.00 (0.50–1.50) 12 (63.2%) 7 (36.8%) | n=19 1.00 (0.00–1.00) 15 (79.0%) 4 (21.0%) | n=19 0.50 (0.00–1.00) 16 (84.2%) 3 (15.8%) | 0.272 0.508 | 0.148 0.289 | 0.180 1.000 |
| US B mode (hips) 0–1 >1 | n=19 0.00 (0.00–0.00) 19 (100.0%) 0 (0.0%) | n=19 0.00 (0.00–0.00) 19 (100.0%) 0 (0.0%) | n=19 0.00 (0.00–0.00) 19 (100.0%) 0 (0.0%) | 0.250. | 0.250. | |
| MRI (shoulders) 0–1 >1 | n=14 1.00 (1.00–2.00) 8 (57.1%) 6 (42.9%) | n=12 1.00 (1.00–1.50) 7 (58.3%) 5 (41.7%) | n=16 1.00 (1.00–1.50) 9 (56.3%) 7 (43.7%) | 0.500 1.000 | 0.254 1.000 | 0.172 1.000 |
| MRI (hips) 0–1 >1 | n=15 1.50 (1.50–2.00) 2 (13.3%) 13 (86.7%) | n=13 1.00 (1.00–1.50) 7 (53.9%) 6 (46.1%) | n=16 1.00 (1.00–1.50) 11 (68.8%) 5 (31.2%) | 0.094 0.031 | 0.005 0.023 | 0.078 0.625 |
The data are median (IQR) or n (%). B-mode ultrasonography (US) was used to evaluate the shoulders (sub-deltoid bursitis) and hips (synovitis and/or trochanteric bursitis). The images were interpreted using a semi-quantitative scale for bursitis and synovial effusion (0, normal; 1, slight; 2, moderate; and 3, severe). MRI of the shoulders and pelvic girdle was performed using a 3 T superconductive magnet system (axial T1 without fat suppression) and sagittal and axial T2-short time inversion recovery sequences. The images were interpreted using a semi-quantitative scale for bursa and joint effusion (0, normal; 1, slight; 2, moderate; and 3, severe). 18Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (PET-CT) was performed using a Biograph mCT PET-CT 64 scanner, and the median global standardised uptake values (SUVs) at the shoulders and pelvic girdle were recorded.
p Values were calculated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired data and the McNemar test for categorical variables; p <0.05 was considered significant.