The value of contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasound in the detection of vascularization of finger joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was performed to assess the usefulness of contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) in the evaluation of intraarticular vascularization of finger joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We investigated 198 finger joints in 46 patients with RA, and 80 finger joints in 10 healthy volunteers. Joints with varying levels of clinical activity of inflammation were classified as being active, moderately active, or inactive. CDUS was performed with a high-frequency multi-D linear array transducer. A microbubble-based ultrasound (US) contrast agent (Levovist; Schering, Berlin, Germany) was intravenously infused. Doppler findings were rated on the basis of both unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CDUS images. RESULTS: Healthy joints showed no intraarticular vascularization on either unenhanced or contrast-enhanced CDUS. Unenhanced CDUS detected intraarticular vascularization in 7 (8%) of 83 inactive joints, in 31 (52%) of 60 moderately active joints, and in 32 (58%) of 55 active joints. Contrast-enhanced CDUS detected intraarticular vascularization in 41 (49%) of 83 joints with inactive RA, in 59 (98%) of 60 joints with moderately active RA, and in all 55 joints with active RA. Detection of intraarticular vascularization was improved by administration of the microbubble-based US contrast agent (P < 0.001). Contrast-enhanced CDUS demonstrated differences in intraarticular vascularization between joints with inactive RA and those with active RA (P < 0.001), between joints with inactive RA and those with moderately active RA (P < 0.001), and between joints with moderately active RA and those with active RA (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of a microbubble-based US contrast agent significantly improved the detection of intraarticular vascularization in the finger joints of patients with RA. This technique seems to be a useful adjunct in the assessment of disease activity.     

The value of contrast‐enhanced color doppler ultrasound in the detection of vascularization of finger joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective

A prospective study was performed to assess the usefulness of contrast‐enhanced color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) in the evaluation of intraarticular vascularization of finger joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

We investigated 198 finger joints in 46 patients with RA, and 80 finger joints in 10 healthy volunteers. Joints with varying levels of clinical activity of inflammation were classified as being active, moderately active, or inactive. CDUS was performed with a high‐frequency multi‐D linear array transducer. A microbubble‐based ultrasound (US) contrast agent (Levovist; Schering, Berlin, Germany) was intravenously infused. Doppler findings were rated on the basis of both unenhanced and contrast‐enhanced CDUS images.

Results

Healthy joints showed no intraarticular vascularization on either unenhanced or contrast‐enhanced CDUS. Unenhanced CDUS detected intraarticular vascularization in 7 (8%) of 83 inactive joints, in 31 (52%) of 60 moderately active joints, and in 32 (58%) of 55 active joints. Contrast‐enhanced CDUS detected intraarticular vascularization in 41 (49%) of 83 joints with inactive RA, in 59 (98%) of 60 joints with moderately active RA, and in all 55 joints with active RA. Detection of intraarticular vascularization was improved by administration of the microbubble‐based US contrast agent (P < 0.001). Contrast‐enhanced CDUS demonstrated differences in intraarticular vascularization between joints with inactive RA and those with active RA (P < 0.001), between joints with inactive RA and those with moderately active RA (P < 0.001), and between joints with moderately active RA and those with active RA (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The use of a microbubble‐based US contrast agent significantly improved the detection of intraarticular vascularization in the finger joints of patients with RA. This technique seems to be a useful adjunct in the assessment of disease activity.

     

类风湿关节炎患者外周血高迁移率族蛋白1表达

目的通过检测类风湿关节炎（RA）患者外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）、血浆中高迁移率族蛋白1（HMGB1）表达,为寻找治疗RA的新靶点提供依据。方法采集38例活动期RA患者、24例相对稳定期RA患者和20例健康对照者外周血。RT．PCR检测PBMC HMGB1mRNA表达,Western blot检测PBMC、血浆HMGB1蛋白表达。结果与相对稳定期RA患者、健康对照者相比,活动期RA患者PBMC HMGB1mRNA表达水平差异无统计学意义（F=1．23,P〉0．05）,而HMGB1蛋白表达水平下降（F=70．91,P〈0．01）,血浆HMGB1水平显著增高（P〈0．001）。相对稳定期RA患者与健康对照者之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。活动期RA患者血浆HMGB1水平与ESR（r．=0．478。P〈0．001）、C-反应蛋白（rs=0．574,P〈0．05）呈正相关。结论HMGB1与RA发病密切相关,并可能成为新的治疗靶点。     

Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the wrist in patients with rheumatoid arthritis can discriminate active from inactive disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of dynamic gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the wrist in the evaluation of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Thirty-six patients with RA (with different degrees of disease activity) and 5 healthy controls were studied. MRI was performed with a low-field (0.2T), extremity-dedicated machine. After an intravenous bolus injection of gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, 20 consecutive fast spin-echo images of 3 slices of the wrist were obtained every 18 seconds. RESULTS: The curves of synovial membrane enhancement identified the following 2 groups: controls and RA patients in remission, and RA patients with active or intermediately active disease. Both the rate of early enhancement (REE) and relative enhancement (RE) were significantly higher in patients with active RA than in those with inactive RA and controls. The REE and RE were significantly correlated with the number of swollen joints (P < 0.00001 and P = 0.003, respectively), the number of tender joints (P < 0.00001 and P = 0.004, respectively), the Ritchie index (P = 0.0002 for both REE and RE), the Disease Activity Score (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0008, respectively), the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.0007, respectively), early morning stiffness (P = 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively), the C-reactive protein level (P = 0.015 and P = 0.03, respectively), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.03, RE only), and alpha2 globulins (P = 0.036 and P = 0.028, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our data support use of dynamic MRI for discriminating active from inactive RA. Enhancement curves are associated not only with laboratory and clinical indicators of inflammation, but also with the HAQ, a relevant predictor of RA functional outcome. This technique can be repeated frequently and is an excellent candidate for the ideal method for the followup of patients with RA.     

Power Doppler sonography in the assessment of synovial tissue of the knee joint in rheumatoid arthritis: a preliminary experience

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intra-articular vascularisation of the synovial pannus in the knee of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with power Doppler ultrasonography (PDS) and an echo contrast agent and correlate the area under the time-intensity curves with the clinical findings and laboratory measures of disease activity. METHOD: Forty two patients with RA (31 women, 11 men) with history and signs of knee arthritis, classified according to a modified index of synovitis activity (active, moderately active, and inactive), were studied. Clinical and functional assessment (number of swollen joints, intensity of pain, general health-visual analogue scale, disability index-Health Assessment Questionnaire, Ritchie articular index) and a laboratory evaluation were made on all patients. Disease activity was evaluated using the disease activity score (DAS) and the chronic arthritis systemic index (CASI) for each patient. All patients were examined with conventional ultrasonography and PDS before injection of intravenous ultrasound contrast agent (Levovist). The quantitative estimation of the vascularisation of the synovial membrane was performed with time-intensity curves and calculation of the area under the curves. RESULTS: The mean (SD) value of the area underlying time-intensity curves was 216.2 (33.4) in patients with active synovitis, 186.8 (25.8) in patients with moderately active synovitis, and 169.6 (20.6) in those with inactive synovitis. The mean value of the areas differed significantly between the patients with active and those with inactive synovitis (p<0.01). The mean value of the area under the curve of the entire group was weakly correlated with the number of swollen joints (p=0.038), but a strong correlation was found with composite indexes of disease activity such as the DAS (p=0.006) and CASI (p=0.01). No correlation was found with age, disease duration, and other laboratory and clinical variables. CONCLUSION: PDS may be a valuable tool to detect fractional vascular volume and to assist clinicians in distinguishing between inflammatory and non-inflammatory pannus. The transit of microbubbles of ultrasound contrast across a tissue can be used to estimate haemodynamic alterations and may have a role in assessing synovial activity and the therapeutic response to treatment of synovitis of the knee joint.     

高迁移率族蛋白1及Toll样受体4在类风湿关节炎患者血清和外周血单个核细胞中的表达及意义

目的 通过研究高迁移率族蛋白(HMGB)1及Toll样受体(TLR)4在类风湿关节炎(RA)外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)和血清中的表达,探讨HMGB1的作用及其与疾病活动的关系.方法 选取活动期RA患者38例和非活动期RA患者36例及健康对照组26名.采用反转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法检测PBMC中HMGB1 mRNA的表达,酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测血清中HMGBI蛋白的表达.采用流式细胞术分析PBMC上TLR4的表达.结果 ①活动期RA组PBMC中HMGB1 mRNA相对表达量和血清中HMGB1蛋白水平均高于健康对照组和非活动期RA患者[分别为2.63与0.71.0.93和(10.2±1.2)与(7.5+1.8),(8.3±1.8)ng/ml,P＜0.01.②活动期RA患者CD14+单核细胞和CD3+淋巴细胞上TLR4蛋白相对表达量高于非活动期和健康对照组(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),非活动期患者高于健康对照组(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).③血清中HMGB1蛋白水平与红细胞沉降率(ESR)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、类风湿因子(RF)、关节压痛数、肿胀数及关节X线分期均呈正相关,亦与TLR4蛋白相对表达量呈正相关.结论 RA患者PBMC具有合成和分泌HMGB1蛋白的功能,并部分通过与TLR4结合激活炎症反应,加重骨质破坏.     

Doppler ultrasound measurements of knee joint synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with infliximab

Doppler ultrasound measurements were done for the thickness of synovial effusion and synovial proliferation (pannus), and diameter of the flow signals using digital calipers as well as flow signal grades and vascular resistance in the knee joint synovitis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with infliximab. Forty knee joints of 20 RA patients were assessed before and after three injections of infliximab. The flow signals in the pannus were classified into the superficial and the deep signals and the joints were classified into the superficial signal pattern and the deep signal pattern. After treatment, the number of joints with superficial signal pattern reduced from 23 to 11, whereas the number of joints with deep signal pattern increased from 17 to 29 (P=0.0066), with a significant reduction of the superficial signal grades (P=0.0003). The mean cortical (posterior) pannus thickness increased significantly in the joints with superficial signal pattern (P=0.022) and in the total joints (superficial plus deep signal pattern) (P=0.031) but not in the joints with deep signal pattern. After 6 weeks of treatment with infliximab, the hyperemia in the superficial layer of the pannus developed into proliferation of the cortical pannus in the knee joints.     

SACRAH: a score for assessment and quantification of chronic rheumatic affections of the hands

OBJECTIVES: To establish a questionnaire to quantify the extent of the function and activities of the hand in patients with degenerative or inflammatory disease of the hand and finger joints. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-two patients with osteoarthritis (OA, n = 69) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 103) completed a new questionnaire, the SACRAH, that included 23 visual analogue scales covering the extent of hand function, stiffness and level of pain. SACRAH scores may range from 0 to 100. RESULTS: Comparing all studied patients, there was no significant difference in SACRAH scores between OA and RA patients (34 vs 32, not significant). Scores for both patient groups differed significantly from those for 30 healthy controls. Among patients taking NSAIDs only, individuals suffering from OA (n = 50) scored significantly lower than RA patients (n = 42) (36 vs 48, P < 0.004). Sixty-one RA patients taking DMARDs scored lower than the RA patient group treated with NSAIDs only (20 vs 48, P < 0.0001). Thirty-two RA patients were evaluated longitudinally at their first visit and 3 months after the initiation of DMARDs. Following therapy, SACRAH scores were significantly reduced from 50 to 11 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire enables the quantification of compromised hand function, stiffness and pain in OA and RA patients, and is sensitive to therapy-related changes in RA patients.     

血清骨桥蛋白水平与类风湿关节炎活动性的关系及在伴肺间质病变中的意义

目的 检测类风湿关节炎(RA)患者血清骨桥蛋白(OPN)水平,分析血清OPN水平与RA疾病活动的相关性,初步探讨OPN在RA合并肺间质病变(ILD)发病机制中的作用.方法 收集临床确诊的65例RA患者血清.其中活动期RA患者43例,缓解期RA患者22例;其中合并ILD者24例,未合并ILD者41例.以20名健康体检者血清为健康对照组.采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测血清OPN水平,并与RA患者的临床及实验室指标进行相关性分析.结果 ①RA组血清OPN水平(中位数18.0 ng/ml),高于健康对照组(中位数14.0 ng/ml,P<0.01);活动期RA组血清OPN水平(中位数20.0 ng/ml),高于缓解期RA组(中位数1.5 ng/ml,P<0.01).②RA组血清OPN水平与病程、关节压痛数、红细胞沉降率(ESR)、C反应蛋白(CRP)等呈显著正相关,与关节肿胀数无相关性.③RA合并ILD组血清OPN水平(中位数20.0 ng/ml),高于RA未合并ILD组(中位数17.0 ng/ml,P<0.05);且与动脉氧分压(PaO2)呈负相关;与肺功能(肺活量、一氧化碳弥散吸收率)无相关性.④RA合并ILD组关节压痛数,关节肿胀数、ESR、CRP等与RA未合并ILD组相比差异具有统计学意义(P均<0.01);RA合并ILD组血清类风湿因子(RF)(IgM)高于RA未合并ILD组(P<0.05).结论 OPN在RA发病机制中具有一定意义且与RA活动性有关,可作为评价疾病活动度的炎性指标;OPN参与了RA合并ILD的发生及进展,并与肺损害严重程度有关.     

Evaluation of classical complement pathway activation in rheumatoid arthritis: measurement of C1q-C4 complexes as novel activation products

OBJECTIVE: Novel activation products that are stable and minimally susceptible to in vitro artefacts have recently been described in the classical complement pathway. The present study assessed circulating levels of these products, i.e., covalent complexes between the recognition molecule of the classical pathway (C1q) and activated C4, in plasma samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to establish the relationship between these levels and the clinical and immunologic parameters in these patients. METHODS: C1q-C4 levels were measured in plasma samples from 41 patients with active RA and 43 patients with inactive RA. These levels were related to other complement activation products and to disease activity according to the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), using Spearman's rank correlations. RESULTS: C1q-C4 plasma levels were significantly higher in patients with active RA as compared with patients with RA in clinical remission (median 3.3 arbitrary units [AU], range 0.4-13.4 versus 1.7 AU, range 0.2-5.5; P=0.0001), suggesting that activation of the classical complement pathway reflects disease activity. This was supported by a significant correlation between C1q-C4 levels and the DAS28 (r=0.398, P=0.0002). Levels of other complement activation products, such as activated C4 (C4b/c), were also significantly elevated in patients with active disease compared with patients with inactive disease (P=0.03), and were correlated with C1q-C4 levels (r=0.329, P=0.002). Levels of C1q-C4 complexes were higher in synovial fluid samples than in plasma samples from the 4 patients tested. CONCLUSION: Systemic complement activation via the classical pathway in patients with RA correlates with disease activity. These results indicate that C1q-C4 complexes may be used as a biomarker for RA.     

Joint symmetry in early and late rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis: comparison with a mathematical model

OBJECTIVE: To establish a mathematical model to predict the probability of symmetry of joint involvement as a function of the number of joints involved and to compare expected with actual probabilities in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in early and late disease. METHODS: Random involvement of joints was assumed, and the binomial theorem was used to give the frequency distribution of involved joints as a function of each joint count. Ten joint pairs were included: shoulder, elbow, wrist, metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the hands, hip, knee, ankle, metatarsophalangeal joints, and PIP joints of the feet. Observed probabilities were obtained from subjects with early (duration < or =12 months) and late PsA and RA. RESULTS: The number of subjects in each of the disease subgroups was as follows: early PsA n = 33, late PsA n = 77, early RA n = 61, late RA n = 93. Observed probabilities of symmetry exceeded predicted probabilities for all disease subgroups. The median number of involved joints in each group was as follows: early PsA 4, late PsA 8, early RA 8, late RA 15 (chi2 = 95.3, 3 degrees of freedom, P = 0.0001, by Kruskal-Wallis test). After correcting for the discrepancy in the number of involved joints, no difference in joint symmetry was found between the groups (chi2 = 1.77, P = 0.62 by Friedman two-way analysis of variance). Similar results were obtained when individual hand and foot joints were analyzed separately. CONCLUSION: The pattern of joint involvement is often used to distinguish between rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. This study confirms that symmetry is largely a function of the total number of joints involved and that, in terms of joint pattern, differences between these disorders are more quantitative than qualitative. Both disorders have high absolute values of symmetry, particularly in the joints of the wrist and hand.     

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with the selective costimulation modulator abatacept: twelve-month results of a phase iib, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of abatacept (CTLA-4Ig), a selective costimulation modulator, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that has remained active despite methotrexate (MTX) therapy. METHODS: This was a 12-month, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 339 patients with active RA despite MTX therapy were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg/kg abatacept (n = 115), 2 mg/kg abatacept (n = 105), or placebo (n = 119). This report focuses on the results observed at month 12 of a phase IIb trial. RESULTS: A significantly greater percentage of patients treated with 10 mg/kg abatacept met the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (achieved an ACR20 response) at 1 year compared with patients who received placebo (62.6% versus 36.1%; P < 0.001). Greater percentages of patients treated with 10 mg/kg abatacept also achieved ACR50 responses (41.7% versus 20.2%; P < 0.001) and ACR70 responses (20.9% versus 7.6%; P = 0.003) compared with patients who received placebo. For patients treated with 10 mg/kg abatacept, there were also statistically significant and clinically important improvements in modified Health Assessment Questionnaire scores compared with patients who received placebo (49.6% versus 27.7%; P < 0.001). Abatacept at a dosage of 10 mg/kg elicited an increase in rates of remission (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints of <2.6) compared with placebo at 1 year (34.8% versus 10.1%; P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse events was comparable between the groups, and no significant formation of neutralizing antibodies was noted. CONCLUSION: Abatacept was associated with significant reductions in disease activity and improvements in physical function that were maintained over the course of 12 months in patients with RA that had remained active despite MTX treatment. Abatacept was found to be well tolerated and safe over the course of 1 year. Abatacept in combination with MTX has the potential to play an important role in future RA therapy.     

A comparison of clinical vs ultrasound determined synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis utilizing gray-scale, power Doppler and the intravenous microbubble contrast agent 'Sono-Vue'

OBJECTIVES: Synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is assessed clinically by the presence of joint tenderness and swelling. Synovial thickening and increased vascularity may also be detected by high-resolution ultrasonography (US) and power Doppler (PD). This study investigated the relationship between clinical and sonographic features of synovial disease utilizing US, PD and the contrast agent Sono-Vue. METHODS: Forty RA patients were recruited. One proximal inter-phalangeal or metacarpophalangeal joint was selected per patient, as being unambiguously either: swollen and tender, just swollen, just tender or neither swollen nor tender (Nil). Ten joints were selected per clinical group. On US, the mean synovial thickness was measured and synovial hypertrophy and erosions were graded subjectively. Synovial vascularity demonstrated by PD was scored subjectively pre- and post-contrast. RESULTS: All grades of synovial vascularity were found in each clinical group including the Nil group. There were significant differences between the four clinical groups for both synovial hypertrophy (P = 0.024) and PD scores pre- (P = 0.022) and post- (P = 0.039) contrast. Tender-only joints showed significantly less vascularity than other groups. Post-contrast, the median PD scores increased in all but the Nil group, in some cases from the normal to abnormal range. CONCLUSION: Synovitis demonstrated by US and PD is not predicted by patterns of disease as described by joint swelling and tenderness despite unambiguous selection of joints. Synovial vascularity was the least in tender-only joints and was heterogeneous in all other groups, including Nil joints. These findings question the reliability of traditional clinical signs in RA synovitis assessment.     

类风湿关节炎患者血清和滑膜骨桥蛋白的测定

目的 研究骨桥蛋白(OPN)在类风湿关节炎(RA)患者外周血中的浓度变化及在滑膜的表达,探讨OPN在RA患者中的发病机制.方法 收集91例RA患者以及29名正常对照人群临床资料和血清,用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELIsA)方法检测OPN在RA患者外周血中的浓度,分析其变化和RA临床及实验室指标的关系.收集7例RA患者和1名正常对照的滑膜组织,用免疫组织化学的方法观察OPN的表达情况.结果 与正常对照组相比,活动组和非活动组的RA患者外周血中OPN水平均明显升高(p＜0.01),且与RA患者的部分临床指标有相关性:与压痛关节数(r=0.435,P=0.005)、关节的X线分期(r=-0.415,P=0.007)、关节功能(r=0.394,P=0.012)显著相关.OPN在RA滑膜组织大量表达,而在正常对照仅见OPN的少量表达.结论 OPN在RA患者外周血中浓度显著升高,且在滑膜表达明显,OPN可能与RA滑膜增生、骨侵蚀有关.     

Decreased aerobic capacity in children with juvenile dermatomyositis

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients with juvenile dermatomyositis (DM) have limited aerobic capacity compared with healthy controls. METHODS: Fourteen juvenile DM patients with inactive to moderately active, stable disease (age range 7-17 years) and 14 age- and sex-matched controls performed a maximal exercise test using a cycle ergometer. Oxygen uptake and power were measured at peak exercise (VO(2peak) and W(peak), respectively) and at anaerobic threshold (AT and W(AT)). Juvenile DM disease activity and damage were also assessed. RESULTS: Patients with juvenile DM had significantly reduced VO(2peak) (19.6 ml O(2)/kg/minute in juvenile DM versus 31.1 ml O(2)/kg/minute in controls), peak heart rate (166 versus 184 beats per minute), W(peak) (1.6 versus 2.7 watts/kg), AT (11.1 versus 18.0 ml O(2)/kg/minute) and W(AT) (0.6 versus 1.4 watts/kg), compared to controls (P 相似文献   

Measuring finger joint cartilage by ultrasound as a promising alternative to conventional radiograph imaging

Objective

To evaluate the reliability and validity of a novel ultrasound (US) imaging method to measure metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) finger joint cartilage.

Methods

We examined 48 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 18 patients with osteoarthritis (OA), 24 patients with unclassified arthritis of the finger joints, and 34 healthy volunteers. The proximal cartilage layer of MCP and PIP joints for fingers 2–5 was bilaterally visualized from a posterior view, with joints in ～90° flexion. Cartilage thickness was measured with integrated tools on static images. External validity was assessed by measuring radiologic joint space width (JSW) and a numeric joint space narrowing (JSN) score in patients with RA.

Results

Precise measurement was possible for 97.5% of MCP and 94.2% of PIP joints. Intraclass correlation coefficients for bilateral total joint US scores were 0.844 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.648–0.935) for interobserver comparisons and 0.928 (95% CI 0.826–0.971) for intraobserver comparisons (using different US devices). The US score correlated with JSN for both hands (adjusted R² = 0.513, P < 0.001) and JSW of the same finger joints (adjusted R² = 0.635, P < 0.001). Reduced cartilage shown by US allowed discrimination of early symptomatic OA versus early RA and healthy joints. In patients with RA, US scores correlated with duration of treatment‐resistant, progressive RA.

Conclusion

The US method of direct visualization and quantification of cartilage in MCP and PIP joints is objective, reliable, valid, and can be useful for diagnostic purposes in patients with arthritis.     

Ultrasonography of the metatarsophalangeal joints in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging, conventional radiography, and clinical examination

OBJECTIVE: To compare ultrasonography (US) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), conventional radiography, and clinical examination in the evaluation of bone destruction and signs of inflammation in the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Two hundred MTP joints of 40 patients with RA and 100 MTP joints of 20 healthy control subjects were assessed with B-mode US, contrast-enhanced MRI, conventional radiography, and clinical examination for signs of bone destruction and joint inflammation. RESULTS: With MRI considered the reference method, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of US for the detection of bone erosions were 0.79, 0.97, and 0.96, respectively, while the corresponding values for radiography were 0.32, 0.98, and 0.93. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of US for the detection of synovitis were 0.87, 0.74, and 0.79, while for clinical examination, the corresponding values were 0.43, 0.89, and 0.71. Erosive disease was identified in 26 patients by US, compared with 20 patients by MRI and 11 patients by radiography. Evaluation by US indicated signs of inflammation in 36 patients, while MRI and clinical examination revealed signs of inflammation in 31 patients and 20 patients, respectively. US and MRI volume-based gradings of synovitis showed intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.56-0.72 (P < 0.0001). The MRI and radiographic visualizations of US-detected bone changes were closely related to their size-based gradings on US. CONCLUSION: US enables detection and grading of destructive and inflammatory changes in the MTP joints of patients with RA. By comparison with MRI, US was found to be markedly more sensitive and accurate than clinical examination and conventional radiography. Considering the early and frequent involvement of the MTP joints, evaluation of these joints by US may be of major clinical importance in RA.     

Complement activation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis mediated in part by C-reactive protein

OBJECTIVE: Complement activation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered to be triggered by immune complexes. Recently, it was shown that C-reactive protein (CRP) can activate the complement system in vivo. We therefore hypothesized that part of the complement activation in RA is due to CRP. The aim of this study was to investigate CRP-mediated complement activation in RA, and to assess its correlation with disease activity. METHODS: Complexes between CRP and the activated complement components C3d (C3d-CRP) and C4d (C4d-CRP), which reflect CRP-mediated complement activation, as well as the overall levels of activated C3 and C4 were measured in the plasma of 107 patients with active RA and 177 patients with inactive RA. Inactive RA was defined according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria for clinical remission. Disease activity was assessed by the modified Disease Activity Score (DAS28). RESULTS: Plasma levels of C3d-CRP and C4d-CRP were increased in the majority of the patients, and were significantly higher in patients with active disease versus those with inactive RA (P < 0.001). In patients with active RA, the plasma concentrations of C3d-CRP and C4d-CRP correlated significantly with the DAS28 (Spearman's rho 0.61 and 0.55, respectively; P < 0.001), whereas these correlations were less pronounced in patients with inactive RA (Spearman's rho 0.28 [P < 0.001] and 0.25 [P = 0.001], respectively). Levels of activated C3 and C4 were also increased in the majority of the patients, particularly in patients with active RA. CONCLUSION: Part of the activation of complement in RA is mediated by CRP and is correlated with disease activity. We suggest that this activation is involved in the pathogenesis of RA.     

Sites of inflammation in painful rheumatoid shoulder assessed by musculoskeletal ultrasound and power Doppler sonography

Ultrasonography (US) and power Doppler sonography (PDS) was used to investigate causes of new onset of shoulder pain and sites of shoulder inflammation in 157 shoulders of 99 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). US detected effusion and/or synovitis in 92/157 glenohumeral joints, subdeltoid bursitis in 56/157 shoulders and tenosynovitis of biceps tendon in 55/157 shoulders. Bursitis and/or tenosynovitis were accompanied by glenohumeral synovitis in 68/90 shoulders. 68% of serologically active and 12% of serologically inactive patients had glenohumeral synovitis. PDS showed increased microvascular blood flow in 33 of the 44 investigated shoulders. Glenohumeral synovitis was correlated to elevated C-reactive protein levels (p = 0.0001) and microvascular blood flow assessed by PDS (p = 0.02). This study shows that rheumatoid shoulder pain is not caused by glenohumeral synovitis in 32% of patients, despite serologically active RA. US and PDS are mandatory to elucidate the origin of inflammatory and noninflammatory shoulder pain.