| Abstract: | The objective of this study was to validate musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) in a rabbit model of acute gout. Acute gout was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in 10 rabbits; the 3 controls received vehicle. Rabbit knees were assessed by B-mode and power Doppler (PD) US 24 and 72?h after injections. After 72?h, all rabbits were euthanized. US discriminated between the MSU-injected and control groups with respect to the different inflammatory findings at both at 24 and 72?h and for MSU crystal-related findings after 24?h of injection. US synovial thickening, intra-synovial power Doppler signal and global joint distension significantly correlated with the synovial global histopathological score (r?=?0.47, p?=?0.0188), tissue vascularization measured by CD31 immunohistochemical-positive staining (r?=?0.46, p?=?0.0172) and tissue levels of interleukin-1β (r?=?0.53, p?=?0.0078), respectively. US is a valid method for assessment of synovial inflammation in experimental gouty arthritis in rabbits. |
