Ultrasound evaluation of finger joint cartilage damage progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cartilage damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is commonly evaluated by joint space narrowing (JSN) on conventional radiograph (CR). Cross-sectional studies suggest that ultrasound (US) can directly assess finger-joint cartilage damage; however, whether it can sufficiently evaluate cartilage changes over time remains unclear.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate temporal changes in cartilage damage in patients with RA using US.

Design

A single-center, retrospective observational study.

Methods

Fifty-three patients with RA underwent US scans of finger joints and CR of both hands at baseline and 1 year later. Cartilage thickness was measured at the bilateral second to fifth metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, and cartilage dam

SUBMITTER: Ogura T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12833195 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature