IntroductionThis study aimed to assess the utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) in patients with joint symptoms using a probabilistic approach.MethodsOne hundred and three patients without prior rheumatologic diagnosis and referred to our clinic for evaluation of inflammatory arthritis were included. Patients were assessed clinically including joint examination, laboratory testing including acute-phase reactants, rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti citrulinated protein antibody (ACPA), and radiographs of hands and feet if clinically indicated. A diagnostic assessment was then performed by the responsible rheumatologist where the probability of a) any inflammatory arthritis and b) rheumatoid arthritis was given on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 to 20% up to 80 to 100% probability. Subsequently, an ultrasound examination of the wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints 2 to 5 in both hands, metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints 2 to 5 in both feet and any symptomatic joints was performed and the results presented to the same rheumatologist. The latter then assessed the diagnostic probabilities again, using the same scale.ResultsThe rheumatologists’ certainty for presence/absence of inflammatory arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis was increased significantly following ultrasound performance. The proportion of patient for whom diagnostic certainty for inflammatory arthritis was maximal was 33.0% before and 71.8% after musculoskeletal ultrasound (P <0.001). With regard to a diagnosis of RA, the proportions were 31.1% pre-test and 61.2% post-test (P <0.001). MSUS findings agreed with the final diagnosis in 95% of patients.ConclusionMusculoskeletal ultrasound, when added to routine rheumatologic investigation, greatly increases the diagnostic certainty in patients referred for the evaluation of inflammatory arthritis. The changes from pre-test to post-test probability quantify the diagnostic utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound in probabilistic terms.
ObjectivesThe correct identification of synovitis is critical for achieving optimal therapy results. Fluorescence optical imaging (FOI) is a novel modality based on the use of an intravenous fluorophore, which enables fluorescent imaging of the hands and wrists with increased focal optical signal intensities in areas of high perfusion and/or capillary leakage. The study objective was to determine the diagnostic utility of FOI in detecting apparent and clinically non-apparent active synovitis.MethodsBilateral hand and wrist joints (n=872) of 26 patients with inflammatory arthritis assessed by standard clinical examination, musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and FOI were studied. Synovitis was defined as tender and swollen joints on clinical examination, presence of synovial thickening and intra-articular Doppler signals on MSUS, and abnormal focal optical signal intensities on FOI, respectively. Subclinical synovitis was defined as being clinically non-apparent, but positively inflamed on MSUS.ResultsDepending on the standard used to define inflammation, FOI ranged from 73–83% sensitive and 83–95% specific for detecting manifest synovitis. For detecting clinically silent synovitis, the sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of FOI were 80%, 96%, 77% and 97%, respectively.ConclusionsThe high degree of agreement between MSUS and FOI suggest its use in clinical practice, especially when MSUS is not available, in order to identify synovitis earlier and with greater confidence. FOI may be particularly useful in identifying patients with clinically non-apparent joint inflammation of the hands and/or wrists.
ObjectivesFluorescence Optical Imaging (FOI) is an emerging modality that uses an intravenous fluorophore to display altered microcirculation (abnormal perfusion/capillary leakage) in synovial tissues in the hands. FOI can be analyzed visually (FOI-v) or by using automated Disease ACTivity (DACT). Using musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) as a validated reference measure, we previously showed FOI to be highly sensitive and specific in detecting clinically manifest and silent synovitis in patients with various rheumatic diseases. Here, we analyze whether the same is true for early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA).MethodsHands and wrists ineRA patients were assessed by clinical examination, MSUS and FOI-DACT. Active inflammation was defined as having synovial-hypertrophy/effusions and intra-articular Doppler signaling on MSUS, and as increased optical-intensities on FOI-v. Scores on DACT ≥ 1 was considered indicative of disease activity.Results39 eRA patients were studied [72% females, 56% previous/current smokers, 54% RF(+) and 69% ACCP(+)]. Of the 1326 joints in these patients, 303 were inflamed by clinical assessment, 380 by MSUS, and 400 by FOI-v. The percentages of patients and (mean ± SD) joints by clinical, MSUS and FOI-v were 69%(7.8 ± 8.1), 95%(9.7 ± 7.7), and 95%(10.3 ± 7.2), respectively. Using MSUS as reference, FOI-DACT was 95%(35/37) accurate in identifying patients with active disease, 24%(9/37) of whom had erosive RA. Good correlations noted between MSUS and FOI-v (rho = 0.803; p < 0.001), clinical assessment and FOI-v (rho = 0.732; p < 0.001), and MSUS and clinical (rho = 0.793; p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV of inflammation by FOI-v was 81%(308/380), 90%(854/946), 61%, and 96% respectively. Of the clinically negative but MSUS positive (145/1023) joints, 68%(98/145) were also FOI-v positive. Remarkably, one patient had 15 joints that were FOI-DACT positive and MSUS negative, but a month later, the same joints became MSUS positive. Although the wrists and MCPs were frequently inflamed, DIP joint inflammation was also seen in 34 and 14 joints in 12 patients by FOI-DACT and MSUS, respectively. Nine of these patients had osteoarthritis by conventional radiography.ConclusionsAs reported for established rheumatic diseases, here we show high correlations and agreements between clinical examination, MSUS and FOI-v in detecting subtle inflammation in early RA as well. Moreover, DACT-FOI emerges as a useful automated quantitative scoring method for synovial inflammation in eRA.Reference Kisten Y, Györi N, af Klint E, et al. 2015 Detection of clinically manifest and silent synovitis in the hands and wrists by fluorescence optical imaging. RMD Open. 1: e000106. doi:10.1136/ rmdopen-2015-000106()
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