scholarly journals Ultrasonographic Assessment of Synovitis with Lessor Toe Deformity Due to Rheumatoid Arthritis

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011417S0002
Author(s):  
Takeshi Kashiwagura ◽  
Koji Nozaka ◽  
Hideji Kura ◽  
Hiroshi Aonuma

Category: Lesser Toes Introduction/Purpose: [Introduction] In recent years, joint ultrasonography has been widely used for the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), allowing visualization of synovitis. Its clinical usefulness in early diagnosis and evaluation of disease activity has been reported. Continuous inflammation, osteochondral destruction, and soft tissue destruction due to synovitis in toe joints result in various clinical pictures of the foot. In the lateral toes in the forefoot, subluxation or luxation of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints may occur, leading to painful callosities and resultant disturbance in activities of daily living. Few reports have addressed toe deformity and joint ultrasonographic findings of synovitis in the forefoot. In this study, lateral MTP joints were assessed using joint ultrasonography in RA patients to examine the correlation with deformity. Methods: [Subjects] Seventy feet of 61 RA patients were examined in the outpatient clinic of our hospital. Patients who underwent surgery were excluded. The mean age of the patients was 66 years (24 to 92 years), and the mean duration of disease was 12 years and 9 months (1 month to 40 years). Biologic products were used for 23 feet. Joint ultrasonography was performed by the same examiner, using the same room and apparatus. Synovitis was defined as Grade 1 or more as determined by the power Doppler method. Based on foot radiographs in upright position obtained before and after ultrasonography, patients with luxation, subluxation, and joint fissure narrowing were classified into the deformity group, those with bone erosion and geode formation into the bone erosion group, and lack of abnormal findings into the normal group. Results: [Results] Synovitis was found in MTP joints in 41 (14.6%) of 280 toes. The incidence rates of synovitis in the deformity group, the bone erosion group, and the normal group were 27.3%, 13.1%, and 6.7%, respectively. Synovitis was found in 21.7% of patients on therapy with biologic products and in 38.3% of those without such therapy. There were no significant differences in the mean duration of the disease, visual analogue scale score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, matrix metallopeptidase 3 level, or health assessment questionnaire score among the 3 groups. Conclusion: [Discussion] Synovitis was also found in patients who showed no changes on imaging of the toes. Synovitis persisted in some patients even after establishment of toe deformity. Drug therapy, intensification of conservative therapy, and synovectomy should be considered to prevent further deformation.

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 521.1-521
Author(s):  
R. Fakhfakh ◽  
N. El Amri ◽  
K. Baccouche ◽  
H. Zeglaoui ◽  
E. Bouajina

Background:Joint destruction is a strong predictive factor for residual synovitis among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in clinical remission. Both of them were associated with functional impairment.Objectives:To assess the ultrasound findings and functional outcomes of RA patients in remission according to the site of joint destruction.Methods:A Cross-sectional study including RA patients in remission DAS28 ESR≤ 2.6 for at least 6 months. A B-mode and power doppler (PD) ultrasound of 42 joints was performed. Synovitis was defined and scored using the combined OMERACT-PDUS (gray scale and power doppler (PD)) scoring system graded from 0 to 3. The health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and the radiological Sharp score of the wrists, hands and feet were calculated.Results:Thirty-seven patients were included. The sex ratio was 0.37 and the mean age was 54.2 years ± 12.7. The mean disease duration was 8.1 years±5.1. The mean remission duration was 36.5 months ± 32.7. The mean DAS28vs was 2.1 ± 0.5. Rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies were found in 62% and 75% of patients, respectively. The mean HAQ was 0.35 ± 0.38. Bone erosion was found in 81% of patients. In patients with hands and feet erosions (54%), synovitis was found in 90% of cases associated with PD in 70% of cases. The mean total score of synovitis was 7.8 ± 5.4. The mean HAQ was 0.37 ± 0.44. In patients with only erosions in the hands or wrists (18.9%), synovitis was found in 100% of cases associated with PD in 57% of cases. The mean total score of synovitis was 4.5±4.7. The mean HAQ was 0.48 ± 0.34. In patients with only feet erosions (8.1%), synovitis was found in 100% of cases associated with PD in 66.7% of cases. The mean total score of synovitis was 4.6±3.5. The mean HAQ was 0.31 ± 0.26. RA was not erosive in 18.9% of patients. In these patients, synovitis was found in 100% of cases associated with PD in 28.6% of cases. The mean total score of synovitis was 5.6±4.3. The mean HAQ was 0.21 ± 0.23. There is no significant difference between these groups(p>0.05).Conclusion:In RA in remission, PD synovitis and functional incapacity were less frequent in the absence of erosion. PD synovitis was more frequently found in patients with erosions, especially, in the feet. The HAQ was higher in patients with hands erosions.References:[1]Hamamoto Y, Ito H, Furu M, Hashimoto M, Fujii T, Ishikawa M, et al. Serological and Progression Differences of Joint Destruction in the Wrist and the Feet in Rheumatoid Arthritis - A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study. PLoS One. 2015;10(8):e0136611.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1394.2-1394
Author(s):  
R. Fakhfakh ◽  
N. El Amri ◽  
K. Baccouche ◽  
H. Zeglaoui ◽  
E. Bouajina

Background:Ultrasound-detected synovitis, mainly synovial Doppler signal, has shown predictive value in relation to radiographic damage progression and disease flare or relapse in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with clinical remission.Objectives:The aim of the study was to analyze the correlation between power Doppler scores and clinical/laboratory and radiographic data in clinical remission RA patients.Methods:Cross-sectional study including patients with RA in clinical remission defined by: DAS28ESR ≤ 2.6, without disease flare or changes in therapy in the previous 6 months. Each patient underwent ultrasound: B-mode and PD assessments of 36 joints and 20 tendons in the Rheumatology Department over a period of 6 month. Synovitis and tenosynovitis were defined and scored according to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT). Radiological measurements included the modified Sharp/van der Heijde method (SHS). Functional capacity was assessed by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ).Results:Thirty two patients were enrolled, the mean age was 53.7±13.4 and 75% were female. The mean disease duration was 15 years ± 8.8. Subclinical synovitis were the most frequent in wrist (56.3%), 2ndmetacarpophalangeal joints (28.1%) and 2ndmetatarsophalangeal joints (29%). The mean subclinical synovitis/ tenosynovitis numbers was 4±3.1 per patient. Synovial hypertrophy and B mode tenosynovitis were detected in 93.8%: 71.3% had a grade = 2 and 9.8% had a grade= 3. Total B mode score was correlated only with the SHS score in the feet (r: 0.4, p: 0.03). PD signal was detected in 62.5% of patients: 37.5% had a grade =2 and 9.4% had a grade= 3. Total PD score was correlated with DAS28 (r:0.42, p:0.02), the SHS score in the hands (r:0.39, p:0.03) and in the feet (r:0.5, p:0.007), synovial hypertrophy (r:0.6, p:0.0001) and HAQ (r:0.32, p:0.06). No correlation was found with CDAI, SDAI, swollen joint counts, tender joint counts, patient global health assessment, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, biologic treatment.Conclusion:Synovial hypertrophy and PD signal were frequent in RA remission. PD signal was associated with RA activity, radiologic damage and functional capacity.References:[1]Yan Geng & Jingjing Han & Xuerong Deng and al. Presence of power Doppler synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients with synthetic and/or biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug-induced clinical remission: experience from a Chinese cohort. Clinical Rheumatology 2014. DOI 10.1007/s10067-014-2634-yDisclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1099.2-1099
Author(s):  
R. Fakhfakh ◽  
N. El Amri ◽  
K. Baccouche ◽  
H. Zeglaoui ◽  
E. Bouajina

Background:Sustained remission (SR) is an ultimate treatment goal in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1) and is associated with better RA prognosis, reflected by the quality of life, physical function and radiographic progression (2).Objectives:To investigate the prevalence and predictors of SR in RA patients.Methods:A longitudinal prospective study of patients with RA. At the inclusion, the patients were in remission DAS28 ESR≤ 2.6 for at least 6 months. A B-mode and power doppler (PD) ultrasound of 42 joints and 20 tendons was performed. Synovial hypertrophy (SH) and tenosynovitis in B-mode and PD were defined and scored from 0 to 3 using the OMERACT. The CDAI, SDAI, Boolean remission criteria, the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and the radiological Sharp score were calculated. Then, the DAS28 erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was evaluated at 6 and 12 months. SR was defined as the persistence of a DAS28 ESR≤2.6 at 6 or 12 months without any change in RA therapy during the follow-up. Unstable remission (UR) was defined either as DAS28 ESR > 2.6 at 6 or 12 months or an increase in RA therapy because of a relapse during the follow-up.Results:At baseline, thirty-seven patients were included. At 6 and 12 months, 28 and 24 patients completed follow-up, respectively. In decreasing order, Boolean remission (92.2%), DAS28ESRremission (85.7%), SDAI remission (85%) and CDAI remission (83.3%) achieved SR at 6 months. At 12 months, SR was found in 100% in Boolean remission, 87.5% in SDAI remission, 86.7% in CDAI remission and in 79.7% in DAS28 ESR remission. At 6 months, only the ESR (17mm/1h in SR versus 32 mm/1h in UR, p=0.04) was associated with SR. The disease duration, remission duration, swollen and tender joints, DAS28ESR, HAQ, rheumatoid factor, radiological Sharp score and ultrasound parameters weren’t associated with SR. At 12 months, the squeeze test (15% in SR vs 80% in UR, P=0.01), the ESR (15 mm/1h in SR versus 30 mm/1h in UR, p=0.03), the Boolean remission (61.1% in SR versus 0% in UR, p=0.04) and the DAS28ESR (mean: 1.8 in SR versus 2.5 in UR, P=0.01) were associated with SR. However, no association was found with radiological Sharp score and ultrasound parameters. On multivariate analysis, the ESR (OR=1.13, CI95%=1.01-1.2, p=0.03) and the Squeeze test (OR=21.3, CI95%=1.7-263, p=0.01) were predictors of SR, at 12 months.Conclusion:At 6 and 12 months, 79.7%-85.7% of patients in DAS28 ESR remission achieved sustained remission, respectively. Boolean and DAS28 ESR remission were associated with SR. Unlike DAS28 ESR, Boolean remission seems to reflect more the SR. The squeeze test and the ESR were predictors’ factor. However, the radiological and the ultrasound parameters didn’t show any association.References:[1]Ajeganova S, Huizinga T. Sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis: latest evidence and clinical considerations. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2017;9(10):249-62.[2]Xie W, Li J, Zhang X, Sun X, Zhang Z. Sustained clinical remission of rheumatoid arthritis and its predictive factors in an unselected adult Chinese population from 2009 to 2018. Int J Rheum Dis. 2019;22(9):1670-8.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 508.2-509
Author(s):  
K. Maatallah ◽  
H. Boussaa ◽  
H. Riahi ◽  
H. Ferjani ◽  
M. Habechi ◽  
...  

Background:Foot disease is a common problem in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therapeutic decisions are often based on clinical examination (CE) alone, which can be adversely affected by factors such as deformity, obesity, and peripheral edema. Ultrasonography (US) has previously been shown to be more sensitive than CE for detecting synovitis and tenosynovitis in RA forefeet, but few data exist for the hindfoot and ankle.Objectives:The aim of this study was to compare CE and US for the detection of hindfoot and ankle synovitis and tenosynovitis in patients with established RA.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study including patients with RA (ACR/EULAR 2010). Demographic data and disease parameters were collected. CE was performed by a rheumatologist for the presence or absence of tenderness, swelling, and mobility restriction of both ankles. The following tendons were examined for tenosynovitis: tibialis anterior (TA) and posterior (TP), fibularis longus (FL), and brevis (FB) (assessed together). In a second time, US examination of the tibiotalar, talonavicular, and subtalar joints and the same tendons as CE was performed by a blinded radiologist experienced in musculoskeletal imaging using a Philips HD11 device with a high-frequency linear transducer. The presence or absence of synovitis and tenosynovitis was recorded, and the composite synovitis score (power doppler / grayscale ultrasound (PDUS)) was measured for each joint. The US score of each patient was defined by the sum of the composite scores of the joints studied (0-30). A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.Results:Sixty-two feet were examined in 31 RA patients (25 women and six men) with a mean age of 54.8±10.8 years old [32-70]. The mean disease duration was 8.5±7.2 years [1-37]. Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and Anti-Citrullinated Peptides Antibodies (ACPA) were positive in 61.3% and 83.8% of cases. The mean DAS28 ESR was 3.8±1.5 [0.6-7].Clinical examination of ankles revealed tenderness in 57.4% of cases, swelling in 38.8% of cases, and restriction in the range of motion in 11.1% of cases. TA tenosynovitis was noted in 14.8% of cases, TP tenosynovitis in 22.2% of cases, and FL and FB tenosynovitis in 31.5% of cases.US showed tibiotalar synovitis in 59.3% of cases, talonavicular synovitis in 64.8% of cases, and subtalar synovitis in 46.3% of cases. TA tenosynovitis was noted in 5.6% of cases, TP tenosynovitis in 22.2% of cases, and FB and FL tenosynovitis in 25% and 11.1% of cases respectively.An association was found between clinical tenderness and US synovitis of the tibiotalar joint (p=0.013) and the talonavicular joint (p=0.027). No association was noted between clinical swelling and US synovitis in these joints.No association was noted between clinical and US tenosynovitis of TA (p=0.279), TP (p=0.436), FB (p=0.495) and FL (p=0.315).Conclusion:Clinical examination of RA ankles may be challenging and needs to be coupled with US, which is more sensitive and accurate in the detection of synovitis and tenosynovitis.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


QJM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M M H Hassabelnabi ◽  
N Y Assaf ◽  
H F Zidan ◽  
G M M Abushanab

Abstract Background rheumatoid arthritis is currently regarded as independent cardiovascular risk factor. Accelerated atherosclerosis considered as an extra-articular manifestation of RA that occurs as a result of interaction between traditional CV risk factors and inflammatory activity of joint disease. Both atherosclerosis and RA have in common inflammatory mediators. Objectives the presented study aimed to find the relation between cardiovascular affection and erosive articular changes in RA. Subjects and Methods The presented study included 40 patients’ men and premenopausal women that were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis fulfilling the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis recruited from the physical Medicine, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation outpatient clinics of Ain Shams University, patients underwent laboratory investigation, carotid duplex, musculoskeletal ultrasound and echocardiography. Results Among 40 RA patients, 16 (40%) had erosions in both hands and 24 (60%) without erosion with no statistically significance difference between both sides of hand and feet, only 3 patients (7.5%) had active erosion exhibited by power Doppler. The presence of erosion positively correlated with the mean CIMT (p-value &lt; 0.001) with mean 0.827±0.149, The presence of carotid plaques as a marker of advanced atherosclerosis showed statistically significant value with erosions (p = 0.001). There was positive relation between erosions with disease duration (p-value &lt; 0.001), and negatively with DAS-28 (p = 0.083). Out of 33 patients with positive RF, 16 patients had erosions with statistically significant value (p = 0.017). Conclusion Since the presence of bone erosions was highly associated with higher mean CIMT, consequently, we recommend that when finding bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis patient, good monitoring should be given to cardiovascular risk factors with early and proper treatment to limit the progression of erosions and protect against atherosclerosis and its complications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (7) ◽  
pp. 899-907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsutomu Takeuchi ◽  
Yoshiya Tanaka ◽  
Satoshi Soen ◽  
Hisashi Yamanaka ◽  
Toshiyuki Yoneda ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of denosumab in suppressing joint destruction when added to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD) therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsThis was a multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase 3 study in Japan. Patients with RA aged ≥20 years receiving csDMARDs were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to denosumab 60 mg every 3 months (Q3M), denosumab 60 mg every 6 months (Q6M) or placebo. The change in the modified total Sharp score (mTSS) and effect on bone mineral density (BMD) at 12 months was evaluated.ResultsIn total, 654 patients received the trial drugs. Denosumab groups showed significantly less progression of joint destruction. The mean changes in the mTSS at 12 months were 1.49 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.99) in the placebo group, 0.99 (95% CI 0.49 to 1.49) in the Q6M group (p=0.0235) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.41 to 1.03) in the Q3M group (p=0.0055). The mean changes in bone erosion score were 0.98 (95% CI 0.65 to 1.31) in the placebo group, 0.51 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.80) in the Q6M group (p=0.0104) and 0.22 (95% CI 0.09 to 0.34) in the Q3M group (p=0.0001). No significant between-group difference was observed in the joint space narrowing score. The per cent change in lumbar spine (L1–L4) BMD in the placebo, Q6M and Q3M groups were −1.03%, 3.99% (p<0.0001) and 4.88% (p<0.0001). No major differences were observed among safety profiles.ConclusionsDenosumab inhibits the progression of joint destruction, increases BMD and is well tolerated in patients with RA taking csDMARD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1853.3-1853
Author(s):  
K. Ben Abdelghani ◽  
K. Saadaoui ◽  
A. Fazaa ◽  
S. Miladi ◽  
K. Ouenniche ◽  
...  

Background:The squeeze test or the Gaenslen’s test is an easy and rapid method to identify arthritis in metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints. It’s characterized by tenderness upon lateral compression of MCP or MTP joints. This is a useful clinical exam for the early diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).Objectives:The aim of our study is to assess the real value of that test and its association with synovitis.Methods:A prospective study including RA patients (2010 ACR/EULAR criteria) was conducted at the Rheumatology Department of Mongi Slim Hospital Tunis.US examination was performed by an experimented rheumatologist blinded to clinical data using a machine type Esaote MyLAb 60 with a linear probe of 6-18 MHz. MCP joints were assessed in dorsal longitudinal view, in mode B and Power Doppler.Synovitis was defined and Flexor digitorum Tenosynovitis was defined according to OMERACT.A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Forty-three cases of RA were included. The mean age was 58.92 years [27 - 81]. The sex ratio was 0.16. Among our patients, 46.5% of cases were receiving methotrexate with a mean dose of 15,875 mg / week [7.5 - 22.5]. Corticosteroids were used in 55.8% of our patients with a mean dose of 8.65 mg / day [2.5 - 30]. Moreover, 23.25% of the patients were on biologics.The mean value of morning stiffness was 37 min [0 - 150], the mean value of the global assessment of the disease by the patient was 5/10 [1 - 8]. The Gaenslen’s test was positive bilaterally in 25,6% of cases, in the right hand and in the left one in respectively 39.5% and 27.9% of the patients. Tenosynovitis of the flexors were found clinically in 11.6% case.The mean CRP was 29.7 mg / L [0.2 - 275] and the mean ESR was 65 mm [3 - 120]. The mean value of DAS28 and DAS28CRPwere respectively 5.20 ± 1.43 [2.69 – 9.00] and 4.33 ± 1.43 [1.35 – 8.32]. Overall, 430 joints and 430 flexor tendons were assessed by Ultrasound. Ninety-one synovitis were detected with a mean of 2.56 synovitis in MCP per patient [0 - 10]. Flexor tenosynovitis was found in 53.5% of patients.A statistically significant correlation was found between the squeeze test and presence of ultrasound synovitis of the MCP whatever the site of the synovitis; on the right side (r = 0.507; p < 10-3), or the left one (r = 0.607; p < 10-3) but no correlation between the clinically detected tenosynovitis and the ultrasound tenosynovitis (p = 0.364). We found a significant correlation between the Gleason test and ultrasound tenosynovitis on both side with r = 0.368 and p = 0.015 on the right hand and r = 0.441 and p = 0.003 on the left one.Conclusion:The squeeze test seems to be a very useful and practical clinical examination to easily detect synovitis and aid in the early diagnosis of RADisclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
pp. annrheumdis-2021-219846
Author(s):  
Ho So ◽  
Isaac T Cheng ◽  
Sze-Lok Lau ◽  
Evelyn Chow ◽  
Tommy Lam ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of denosumab on erosion healing at 2–4 metacarpophalangeal (MCP) head as determined by high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with stable disease.MethodsThis was a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Patients with RA with disease activity score 28 joints (DAS28) ≤5.1 were randomised (1:1) to subcutaneous denosumab 60 mg or placebo once every 6 months for 24 months. The primary outcome was erosion healing at MCP 2–4 on HR-pQCT at 12 months. The effects of denosumab on erosion and joint space parameters on HR-pQCT and radiographs, disease activity and health assessment questionnaire-disability index (HAQ-DI) were also examined.ResultsAt 24 months, HR-pQCT images were analysed in 98 patients. One-third of the patients achieved sustained low disease activity throughout the study. At 12 months, changes in erosion parameters on HR-pQCT were similar between the two groups. At 24 months, new erosions (19% vs 9%, p=0.009) and erosion progression (18% vs 8%, p=0.019) were more common in the placebo group than the denosumab group. Erosion healing was seen in a significantly higher proportion of patients in the denosumab group (20% vs 6%, p=0.045) at 24 months. No significant changes in joint space parameters on HR-pQCT, van der Heijde-Sharp erosion score, DAS28 and HAQ-DI were observed in the two groups at 12 and 24 months.ConclusionAlthough no differences in erosion parameters were observed at 12 months, denosumab was more efficacious than placebo in erosion repair on HR-pQCT after 24 months.Trial registration numberNCT03239080.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1106.1-1106
Author(s):  
S. Bouden ◽  
B. D. Siwar ◽  
A. Ben Tekaya ◽  
O. Saidane ◽  
R. Tekaya ◽  
...  

Background:Ultrasound (US) is an accessible and non-invasive tool to assess joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is used for diagnostic and prognosis purposes and for following of RA patients by evaluating the disease activity and therefore the response to treatment.Objectives:This study investigates agreement between US of hand and wrist findings and the clinical examination and biological inflammatory parameters in RA patients.Methods:We performed a cross sectional study including patients responding to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria for RA diagnosis. We collected US findings assessing synovitis and doppler signal in wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) articulations, and concomitant clinical examination assessing synovitis and pain in the same joints along with C reactive protein (CRP) levels and disease activity score (DAS28). The power Doppler US score (PDUS) from 6 simplified synovial sites (wrists, bilateral second and third MCP joints) was calculated [1].Results:Forty-three patients were included with 91.7% of women. The mean age was 62±12.95 years old. The mean age at diagnosis was 52±14.79 years with a mean disease evolution of 8±8.57 years. Rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated antibodies were positive in respectively 78% and 83.9% of cases.The mean disease activity (DAS28) was 1,52 with levels ranging from 1.5 to 7.33.Right wrist was the articulation in which US synovitis was most frequently detected (60.5% of patients), followed by the left wrist (53.5%). Power doppler signal was detected as frequently in the right as in the left wrist articulations (41.9%). Subsequently, clinical synovitis was most frequently detected in right and left wrist with 39,5% and 41,5% respectively. These joints were the most frequently painful, in 51.2% and 48.8% at right and left respectively.US synovitis of the first interphalangeal joint was found in only 2.3% and 4.7% in the right and left hand respectively, with positive power doppler signal in 2.3% of the patients in the same articulations.The overall agreement between US and clinical examination in detecting synovitis of wrist, MCP and PIP joints was of 67.3%. It was of 71.4% in wrists, 54.7% in MCP joints and 87% in PIP joints. This suggests the presence of infra-clinical synovitis. All sites combined, US synovitis were correlated to clinical synovitis (p=0.03).A positive correlation was found between PDUS from 6 simplified joint sites and CRP levels (p value of 0.02). No correlation was found with disease activity score (DAS28).Conclusion:US of hands and wrist articulations is more performant than clinical examination in detecting synovitis. The most frequently involved joints with clinical and US synovitis, pain and positive power doppler signal were the wrist joints. CRP level is predictive of the presence of a high simplified power doppler score which is related to clinical activity of the disease as reported by Kawashiri et al. [1].References:[1]Kawashiri S, Kawakami A, Iwamoto N, Fujikawa K, Satoh K, Tamai M, et al. The power Doppler ultrasonography score from 24 synovial sites or 6 simplified synovial sites, including the metacarpophalangeal joints, reflects the clinical disease activity and level of serum biomarkers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). mai 2011;50(5):962-5.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1077-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel M. Kremer ◽  
Charles Peterfy ◽  
Anthony S. Russell ◽  
Paul Emery ◽  
Carlos Abud-Mendoza ◽  
...  

Objective.Evaluate the safety and efficacy of longterm abatacept (ABA) treatment over 5 years in methotrexate (MTX)-refractory patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.Patients from the 1-year, double-blind Abatacept in Inadequate Responders to Methotrexate (AIM) study (NCT00048568) received open-label ABA (∼10 mg/kg) in the longterm extension (LTE). Safety was assessed for patients who received ≥ 1 ABA dose, and efficacy for patients randomized to ABA and treated in the LTE. Radiographs were evaluated for changes in Genant-modified Sharp scores.Results.Out of 652 patients, 539 entered the LTE (ABA, n = 378; placebo, n = 161). At Year 5, 72.4% were ongoing; discontinuation rates declined over time. Incidence rates of serious adverse events, serious infections, malignancies, and autoimmune events were 13.87, 2.84, 1.45, and 0.99 events/100 patient-years exposure, respectively. American College of Rheumatology 20 response was 82.3% (n = 373) and 83.6% (n = 268) at years 1 and 5, respectively. Disease Activity Score 28 C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) < 2.6 and ≤ 3.2 were achieved by 25.4% and 44.1% of patients at Year 1 (n = 370), and 33.7% and 54.7% at Year 5 (n = 267), respectively. Mean changes in DAS28-CRP and Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index at Year 1 [–2.83 (n = 365) and −0.68 (n = 369)] were maintained at Year 5 [−3.14 (n = 264) and −0.77 (n = 271)] for patients continuing treatment. Of them, 59.5% (n = 291) and 45.1% (n = 235) remained free from radiographic progression at years 1 and 5, respectively.Conclusion.In MTX-refractory patients with RA, longterm ABA treatment was well tolerated and provided consistent safety and sustained efficacy, with high patient retention. Radiographic progression continued to be inhibited with ongoing treatment.


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