Development of a Scoring System to Assist in the Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

1991 ◽  
Vol 30 (01) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Rigby

During the last decade there has been a wealth of papers discussing the development of scoring systems in medicine, some of which have led to fully operational computer-aided diagnostic systems. In this paper we sketch the development of a simple scoring system for one of the more common rheumatic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using a two-tier model, independence Bayes’ followed by logistic discrimination. The scoring system gives reasonably well calibrated probability estimates of RA which suggests ways in which the development of computerised systems in rheumatology might be approached.

Author(s):  
Edoardo Cipolletta ◽  
Emilio Filippucci ◽  
Andrea Di Matteo ◽  
Giulia Tesei ◽  
Micaela Ana Cosatti ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose i) To assess the inter- and intra-observer reliability of ultrasound (US) in the evaluation of the hyaline cartilage (HC) of the metacarpal head (MH) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in healthy subjects (HS) both qualitatively and quantitatively. ii) To calculate the smallest detectable difference (SDD) of the MH cartilage thickness measurement. iii) To correlate the qualitative scoring system and the quantitative assessment. Materials and Methods US examination was performed on 280 MHs of 20 patients with RA and 15 HS using a very high frequency probe (up to 22 MHz). HC status was evaluated both qualitatively (using a five-grade scoring system) and quantitatively (using the average value of the longitudinal and transverse measures). The HC of MHs from II to V metacarpophalangeal joint of both hands were scanned independently on the same day by two rheumatologists to assess inter-observer reliability. All subjects were re-examined using the same scanning protocol and the same US setting by one sonographer after a week to assess intra-observer reliability. Results The inter-observer agreement and intra-observer agreement were moderate to substantial (k = 0.66 and k = 0.73) for the qualitative scoring system and high (ICC = 0.93 and ICC = 0.94) for the quantitative assessment. The SDD of the MH cartilage thickness measurement was 0.09 mm. A significant correlation between the two scoring systems was found (r = –0.35; p < 0.001). Conclusion The present study describes the main methodological issues of HC assessment. Using a standardized protocol, both the qualitative and the quantitative scoring systems can be reliable.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Jethwa ◽  
Suzanne Lam ◽  
Colette Smith ◽  
Ian Giles

Objective.We performed a systematic review and metaanalysis to assess rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity during pregnancy using objective disease activity scoring systems.Methods.A systematic review of PubMed, EMBASE/Medline, Cochrane, and LactMed databases was performed. Our inclusion criteria for analysis were prospective studies, more than 5 patients per study, and data on RA using an objective scoring system conducted by a clinician/health professional.Results.Ten studies were eligible for final analysis, which included 237 patients, of which prepartum data were available for 204 patients. Postpartum disease activity was recorded in 135 pregnancies.Conclusion.Disease activity improved in 60% of patients with RA in pregnancy and flared in 46.7% postpartum.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1405.1-1406
Author(s):  
F. Morton ◽  
J. Nijjar ◽  
C. Goodyear ◽  
D. Porter

Background:The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) individually and collaboratively have produced/recommended diagnostic classification, response and functional status criteria for a range of different rheumatic diseases. While there are a number of different resources available for performing these calculations individually, currently there are no tools available that we are aware of to easily calculate these values for whole patient cohorts.Objectives:To develop a new software tool, which will enable both data analysts and also researchers and clinicians without programming skills to calculate ACR/EULAR related measures for a number of different rheumatic diseases.Methods:Criteria that had been developed by ACR and/or EULAR that had been approved for the diagnostic classification, measurement of treatment response and functional status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis were identified. Methods were created using the R programming language to allow the calculation of these criteria, which were incorporated into an R package. Additionally, an R/Shiny web application was developed to enable the calculations to be performed via a web browser using data presented as CSV or Microsoft Excel files.Results:acreular is a freely available, open source R package (downloadable fromhttps://github.com/fragla/acreular) that facilitates the calculation of ACR/EULAR related RA measures for whole patient cohorts. Measures, such as the ACR/EULAR (2010) RA classification criteria, can be determined using precalculated values for each component (small/large joint counts, duration in days, normal/abnormal acute-phase reactants, negative/low/high serology classification) or by providing “raw” data (small/large joint counts, onset/assessment dates, ESR/CRP and CCP/RF laboratory values). Other measures, including EULAR response and ACR20/50/70 response, can also be calculated by providing the required information. The accompanying web application is included as part of the R package but is also externally hosted athttps://fragla.shinyapps.io/shiny-acreular. This enables researchers and clinicians without any programming skills to easily calculate these measures by uploading either a Microsoft Excel or CSV file containing their data. Furthermore, the web application allows the incorporation of additional study covariates, enabling the automatic calculation of multigroup comparative statistics and the visualisation of the data through a number of different plots, both of which can be downloaded.Figure 1.The Data tab following the upload of data. Criteria are calculated by the selecting the appropriate checkbox.Figure 2.A density plot of DAS28 scores grouped by ACR/EULAR 2010 RA classification. Statistical analysis has been performed and shows a significant difference in DAS28 score between the two groups.Conclusion:The acreular R package facilitates the easy calculation of ACR/EULAR RA related disease measures for whole patient cohorts. Calculations can be performed either from within R or by using the accompanying web application, which also enables the graphical visualisation of data and the calculation of comparative statistics. We plan to further develop the package by adding additional RA related criteria and by adding ACR/EULAR related measures for other rheumatic disorders.Disclosure of Interests:Fraser Morton: None declared, Jagtar Nijjar Shareholder of: GlaxoSmithKline plc, Consultant of: Janssen Pharmaceuticals UK, Employee of: GlaxoSmithKline plc, Paid instructor for: Janssen Pharmaceuticals UK, Speakers bureau: Janssen Pharmaceuticals UK, AbbVie, Carl Goodyear: None declared, Duncan Porter: None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1253.2-1254
Author(s):  
T. Formánek ◽  
K. Mladá ◽  
M. Husakova

Background:Cohort studies using nationwide health registers have shown an increased risk for affective and anxiety disorders in people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1-3). Moreover, a nationwide cohort study demonstrated an increased risk for mental disorders in people with rheumatic diseases (4).Objectives:We aimed to investigate the risk for psychiatric hospitalization following a hospitalization for rheumatic disease.Methods:Using data from the Czech nationwide register of all-cause hospitalizations, we obtained 4 971 individuals hospitalized (index hospitalization) between 2004 and 2012 for rheumatic diseases - RA, spondyloarthritis (including AS, psoriatic arthritis and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis), systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerodermia, with no history of psychiatric and rheuma-related hospitalization in the previous 10 years from the index hospitalization. On these individuals, we randomly matched (on age, gender and year of index hospitalization) controls that were hospitalized in the same time period for a non-rheumatic disease and have no history of psychiatric and rheumatic hospitalization in the last 10 years from their index hospitalization, in the ratio of 1:5. We employed conditional logistic regression for assessing the risk for psychiatric hospitalization in the subsequent 3 years from the index hospitalization. To strengthen our results, we repeated the matching step 100 times and run the analysis on each resulting dataset separately, and pooled the results. The findings are expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).Results:We identified an elevated risk for psychiatric (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1; 1.78) and for affective disorders (OR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.17; 4.1) in people hospitalized for rheumatic diseases. We did not find a statistically significant association with organic, psychotic and anxiety disorders.Conclusion:There is an increased risk for experiencing a psychiatric disorder in the period of 3 years after a rheuma-related hospitalization.References:[1]Shen C-C, Hu L-Y, Yang AC, Kuo BI-T, Chiang Y-Y, Tsai S-J. Risk of Psychiatric Disorders following Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Nationwide Population-based Retrospective Cohort Study. The Journal of Rheumatology. 2016;43(3).[2]Park J-S, Jang H-D, Hong J-Y, Park Y-S, Han K, Suh S-W, et al. Impact of ankylosing spondylitis on depression: a nationwide cohort study. Scientific Reports. 2019;9(1):6736.[3]Hsu C-C, Chen S-C, Liu C-J, Lu T, Shen C-C, Hu Y-W, et al. Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Risk of Bipolar Disorder: A Nationwide Population-Based Study. PLOS ONE. 2014;9(9).[4]Sundquist K, Li X, Hemminki K, Sundquist J. Subsequent Risk of Hospitalization for Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Patients With Rheumatic Diseases: A Nationwide Study From Sweden. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2008;65(5):501-7.Acknowledgments:Supported by the project (Ministry of Health Czech Republic) for conceptual development of research organization 00023728 (Institute of Rheumatology).Disclosure of Interests:Tomáš Formánek: None declared, Karolina Mladá: None declared, Marketa Husakova Speakers bureau: Novartis


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 819.1-819
Author(s):  
L. Long ◽  
G. Tang ◽  
Y. Han ◽  
Q. Peng ◽  
J. Liu ◽  
...  

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and syndrome(SS) are common rheumatic diseases with high incidence. Patients with those rheumatic diseases are at high risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection. However, manifestations can be atypical and easily confused with those of rheumatic disease itself. For those patients, diagnosis is usually much more difficult and further make treatment delayed. Sometimes it may lead to mistreatment. Therefore, it is important to recognize the clinical characteristics of those patients.Objectives:To explore the clinical characteristics and high risk factors of common systemic rheumatism complicated with tuberculosis infection.Methods:A total of 3,906 cases of RA, SLE, and SS common systemic rheumatism diagnosed in the People’s Hospital of Sichuan Province from January 2007 to January 2017 were collected with carefully exclusion with other infectious diseases and neoplastic disease. One hundred and five patients with TB were included as infection group, including 42 cases of RA, 41 cases of SLE, and 22 cases of SS. In the control group, 84 patients with RA, 82 patients with SLE, and 44 patients with SS were randomly selected from the corresponding rheumatoid non-infected patients hospitalized during the same period.Results:Fever was the most common symptom among 42 cases of RA, 41 cases of SLE, and 22 cases of SS with TB, accounting for 83.3%, 92.7%, and 68.2%, respectively. Cough, weight loss or fatigue was less common. For 41 cases of SLE and 22 cases of SS with TB, the proportion of pulmonary was 46.3%, 59.01%, respectively.In TB infection group, 27 cases of RA, 21 cases of SLE, and 13 cases of SS with TB had two or more chest CT findings, accounting for 59%, 57%, 62%, respectively. Lesions located in the posterior or posterior segment which TB usually affected were 9 cases(33.3%),9cases(42.9%),6cases(27.2%),respectively.The daily average dose of hormones within 1 year in TB infection group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). For SLE patients, lower counts of CD4+TL were found in TB infection group (P<0.05), while no such differences were found in RA and SS group.Conclusion:Patients with RA who have TB infection are mainly pulmonary TB. For SLE and SS patients, the chance of pulmonary tuberculosis and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis is similar.Symptoms of RA, SLE, SS with TB, such as fever, cough, weight loss, fatigue, are similar with the primary disease or other infection. Chest imaging is diversity. It is difficult to diagnose.Daily average dose of hormone within one year may be a common risk factor for RA, SLE and SS patients with TB. Decreased CD4+TL may also be a risk factor for SLE patients with TB.References:[1]Cantini F, Nannini C, Niccoli L, et al. Risk of Tuberculosis Reactivation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis Receiving Non-Anti-TNF-Targeted Biologics[J]. Mediators of Inflammation, 2017, 2017(6):1-15.[2]Ruangnapa K, Dissaneewate P, Vachvanichsanong P. Tuberculosis in SLE patients: rare diagnosis, risky treatment.[J]. Clinical & Experimental Medicine, 2015, 15(3):429-432.[3]Manuela D F, Bruno L, Martina S, et al. Lung Infections in Systemic Rheumatic Disease: Focus on Opportunistic Infections[J]. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017, 18(2):293-315.[4]Disseminated tuberculosis masquerading as a presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus.Li JC, Fong W, Wijaya L, Leung YY.Int J Rheum Dis. 2017 Oct 2. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.13195.[5]Handa R, Upadhyaya S, Kapoor S, et al. Tuberculosis and biologics in rheumatology: India – A special situation[J]. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, 2017, 51(2):115.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1931.3-1931
Author(s):  
M. M. Castañeda-Martínez ◽  
G. Figueroa-Parra ◽  
D. Vega-Morales ◽  
B. R. Vázquez Fuentes ◽  
Y. G. Ordoñez Azuara ◽  
...  

Background:Primary care physicians (PCP) are usually the first contact of people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, and find the early symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) difficult to distinguish from those of other rheumatic diseases. A time-delay in the reference to Rheumatology is a health issue in several countries. The clinical aspects that general practitioner took into account in hand arthralgia patients are important to make the reference. In particular the Squeeze Test (ST) - which is simple to perform and rapidly done, ST is useful for identifying progression to RA in patients with undifferentiated arthritis. The ST has been described as not reliable because is clinician-dependent.Objectives:To identify the required force that needs to be applied in order to obtain a positive Automatized Squeeze Test (AST) in a cohort of patients with hand arthralgia.Methods:Ninety-seven patients were recruited in Family Medicine Consultation and in Rheumatology Consultation of the Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González” in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. Eligible patients were adults (aged≥18 years) with hand arthralgia (that wasn’t caused by trauma) as their chief complaint. After obtaining informed consent and after a questionnaire application, patients were submitted to AST maneuver, using an automated compressor with different forces already predetermined in the interface of the software used for compression.Results:In this cohort of 98 patients, 79 (80.6%) were women. The mean age was 51.14 years (SD 14.66). Ninety-six (97.9%) patients were right handed. The diagnoses were Osteoarthritis (OA) (16.3%), RA (5.1%), Undifferentiated arthritis (1.2%), Psoriatic arthritis (1.2%) and Fibromyalgia (2%). Force measures according to diagnoses are reported in Table 1.Table 1.Diagnoses and mean forcesDiagnosisn (%)Right hand force mean (kg/s2) (SD)Left hand force mean (kg/s2) (SD)OA16 (16.3)3.53 (2.74)3.18(2.73)RA5 (5.1)3.60 (2.53)3.16(1.36)UA1 (1.2)7.60(0)8.70(0)PsA1 (1.2)7.60(0)7.80(0)FM2 (2.0)4.11(4.40)1.75(1.06)OA, Osteoarthritis;RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis;UA, Undifferentiated Arthritis;PsA, Psoriatic Arthritis;FM, Fibromyalgia;SD, Standard DeviationConclusion:In the cases of RA and OA, the means of force to obtain a positive AST was lower than in the rest of the diagnoses.References:[1]Stack R, Nightingale P, Jinks C, Shaw K, Herron-Marx S, Horne R et al. Delays between the onset of symptoms and first rheumatology consultation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the UK: an observational study. BMJ Open. 2019;9(3):e024361.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
pp. 021849232110304
Author(s):  
Mehrnoush Toufan ◽  
Zahra Jabbary ◽  
Naser Khezerlou aghdam

Background To quantify valvular morphological assessment, some two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) scoring systems have been developed to target the patients for balloon mitral valvuloplasty; however, each scoring system has some potential limitations. To achieve the best scoring system with the most features and the least restrictions, it is necessary to check the degree of overlap of these systems. Also the factors related to the accuracy of these systems should be studied. We aimed to determine the correlation between the 2D Wilkins and real-time transesophageal three-dimensional (RT3D-TEE) scoring systems. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on 156 patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis who were candidates for percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. To morphologic assessment of mitral valve, patients were examined by 2D-transthoracic echocardiography and RT3D-TEE techniques on the same day. Results A strong association was found between total Wilkins and total RT3D-TEE scores (r = 0.809, p < 0.001). The mean mitral valve area assessed by the 2D and 3D was 1.07 ± 0.25 and 1.03 ± 0.26, respectively, indicating a mean difference of 0.037 cm2 (p = 0.001). We found a strong correlation between the values of mitral valve area assessed by 2D and 3D techniques (r = 0.846, p < 0.001). Conclusion There is a high correlation between the two scoring systems in terms of evaluating dominant morphological features. Partially, mitral valve area overestimation in the 2D-transthoracic echocardiography and its inability to assess commissural involvement as well as its dependence on patient age were exceptions in this study.


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