Finger Joint Cartilage Evaluated by Semiquantitative Ultrasound Score in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes both bone and cartilage lesions. Since joint space narrowing (JSN) is not a direct evaluation of cartilage using radiography, we aimed to examine the validity of ultrasound (US) cartilage evaluation using a semiquantitative method in patients with RA.

Methods

We enrolled 103 patients with RA who were in remission or showing low disease activity and 42 healthy subjects. The cartilage thickness of the bilateral metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the second to fifth fingers was measured by US, and the recorded images were scored semiquantitatively using a scale of 0-2. In addition, the JSN of the corresponding joints was scored using a hand radiograph. The relationships between

SUBMITTER: Ogura T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7898608 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature