OBJECTIVE: To define joint alterations in the wrists of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by ultrasonography (US). METHODS: Fifty-two wrists of 26 SLE patients and 30 wrists of 15 healthy controls were evaluated using US by two different experienced operators, blinded to the clinical data. A 14 MHz linear probe was used. Power Doppler (PD) was applied to evaluate the presence of synovial neoangiogenesis as a parameter of active local synovitis. The findings were correlated to the clinical evaluation, serological systemic disease activity parameters (ESR, C3 levels) and the SLE-disease activity score (SLEDAI). Statistical analysis was performed by the EPISTAT program. RESULTS: Signs of synovitis were found in 22 wrists (42.3%). Synovial proliferation was present in 10 joints (19.2%), PD positivity in 5 (9.6%) and joint effusion in 13 (25%). Erosions were present in both wrists (3.8%) of one patient. Signs of tenosynovitis of one or more tendons were shown in 23 cases (44.2%). Ganglia were found in 2 joints (3.8%). Changes of the median nerve, joint dislocations, tendons' ruptures, cysts and nodules were never detected. In 14 wrists (26.9%) no alterations were found. There was no correlation between sonographic findings and clinical, laboratory and indexes signs of disease activity. In the control group the only alteration found was tenosynovitis in 1 joint (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: US proved to be an useful technique to detect wrist joint alterations in SLE. These findings may help the physician to modulate treatment strategies and to perform a low cost monitoring of joint disease activity.
OBJECTIVE: To define joint alterations in the wrists of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by ultrasonography (US). METHODS: Fifty-two wrists of 26 SLEpatients and 30 wrists of 15 healthy controls were evaluated using US by two different experienced operators, blinded to the clinical data. A 14 MHz linear probe was used. Power Doppler (PD) was applied to evaluate the presence of synovial neoangiogenesis as a parameter of active local synovitis. The findings were correlated to the clinical evaluation, serological systemic disease activity parameters (ESR, C3 levels) and the SLE-disease activity score (SLEDAI). Statistical analysis was performed by the EPISTAT program. RESULTS: Signs of synovitis were found in 22 wrists (42.3%). Synovial proliferation was present in 10 joints (19.2%), PD positivity in 5 (9.6%) and joint effusion in 13 (25%). Erosions were present in both wrists (3.8%) of one patient. Signs of tenosynovitis of one or more tendons were shown in 23 cases (44.2%). Ganglia were found in 2 joints (3.8%). Changes of the median nerve, joint dislocations, tendons' ruptures, cysts and nodules were never detected. In 14 wrists (26.9%) no alterations were found. There was no correlation between sonographic findings and clinical, laboratory and indexes signs of disease activity. In the control group the only alteration found was tenosynovitis in 1 joint (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: US proved to be an useful technique to detect wrist joint alterations in SLE. These findings may help the physician to modulate treatment strategies and to perform a low cost monitoring of joint disease activity.
Authors: J M Koski; S Saarakkala; M Helle; U Hakulinen; J O Heikkinen; H Hermunen; P Balint; G A Bruyn; E Filippucci; W Grassi; A Iagnocco; R Luosujärvi; B Manger; E De Miguel; E Naredo; A K Scheel; W A Schmidt; I Soini; M Szkudlarek; L Terslev; J Uson; S Vuoristo; H R Ziswiler Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2006-05-25 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: E Naredo; I Möller; C Moragues; J J de Agustín; A K Scheel; W Grassi; E de Miguel; M Backhaus; P Balint; G A W Bruyn; M A D'Agostino; E Filippucci; A Iagnocco; D Kane; J M Koski; L Mayordomo; W A Schmidt; W A A Swen; M Szkudlarek; L Terslev; S Torp-Pedersen; J Uson; R J Wakefield; C Werner Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2005-06-07 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Ahmed S Zayat; Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof; Richard J Wakefield; Philip G Conaghan; Paul Emery; Edward M Vital Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford) Date: 2015-10-07 Impact factor: 7.580