Finger Joint Cartilage Thickness Evaluated By Semiquantitative Ultrasound Score in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Takehisa Ogura¹, Ayako Hirata¹, Sayaka Takenaka², Hideki Ito², Yuki Inoue¹, Chihiro Imaizumi², Yuto Takakura², Kennosuke Mizushina¹, Takaharu Katagiri², Norihide Hayashi², Rie Kujime¹, Munetugu Imamura² and Hideto Kameda³, ¹Department of Rheumatology, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan, ²Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan, ³Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan

Meeting: 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Date of first publication: September 18, 2017

Keywords: cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ultrasound

Session Information

Date: Sunday, November 5, 2017

Title: Imaging of Rheumatic Diseases Poster I

Session Type: ACR Poster Session A

Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM

Background/Purpose: Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes both bone and cartilage lesions. By X-ray examination, cartilage destruction is evaluated as the joint space narrowing (JSN). However, JSN is not a direct evaluation of cartilage. Previously we have confirmed the usefulness of the direct imaging of finger joint cartilage thickness (FJCT) by ultrasound (US). Then we aimed to evaluate the FJCT by semiquantitative US score and clarify its clinical significance in patients with RA.

Methods: We enrolled 53 RA patients in low disease activity or clinical remission (DAS28-CRP < 2.7) in this study. The FJCT of metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of 2nd to 5th fingers was bilaterally visualized and measured at the middle portion of MCP and PIP joints from a longitudinal dorsal view, with approximately 90 degrees flexion. Furthermore, one US examiner performed the semiquantitative scoring of the recorded cartilage images in a blinded manner on a scale of 0–2 (0 = normal, 1 = minimal, and 2 = severe)¹⁾. In addition, the JSN of fingers was scored by van der Heijde-modified Sharp method with a hand X-ray obtained within 2 months of US examination. The relationship among the total FJCT, the semiquantitative FJCT score and the JSN score were assessed by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

Results: The total FJCT from 8 fingers ranged from 4.0 to 8.8 mm (median 6.7 mm), which was significantly correlated with the semiquantitative score (rho=-0.681, p<0.001). And both total FJCT and semiquantitative score were significantly correlated with the total JSN score (rho=-0.684, p<0.001, and rho=0.639, p<0.001, respectively). The semiquantitative score was associated with disease duration (rho=0.347, p=0.011), especially for MCP joints (rho=0.453, p<0.001), but not for PIP joints (rho=0.071, p=0.614). Age, height and seropositivity were not associated with semiquantitative FJCT score and JSN score.

Conclusion: A simplified and direct evaluation of cartilage damage by semiquantitative US score is valid and useful in patients with RA.

Reference: 1) #OP0288. Eular2017, Madrid, Spain. doi: 10.1136⁄annrheumdis-2017-eular.4314

Disclosure: T. Ogura, None; A. Hirata, None; S. Takenaka, None; H. Ito, None; Y. Inoue, None; C. Imaizumi, None; Y. Takakura, None; K. Mizushina, None; T. Katagiri, None; N. Hayashi, None; R. Kujime, None; M. Imamura, None; H. Kameda, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Ogura T, Hirata A, Takenaka S, Ito H, Inoue Y, Imaizumi C, Takakura Y, Mizushina K, Katagiri T, Hayashi N, Kujime R, Imamura M, Kameda H. Finger Joint Cartilage Thickness Evaluated By Semiquantitative Ultrasound Score in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017; 69 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/finger-joint-cartilage-thickness-evaluated-by-semiquantitative-ultrasound-score-in-patients-with-rheumatoid-arthritis/. Accessed .

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