Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2019, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (20): 3182-3187.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.1197

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Musculoskeletal ultrasound evaluates the pathological features and inflammatory lesions of rheumatoid finger arthritis  

Hu Xiaoli, Gu Ying, Cai Yan, Xie Jin, Liu Chan   

  1. Ultrasound Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China
  • Online:2019-07-18 Published:2019-07-18
  • Contact: Gu Ying, Master, Chief physician, Ultrasound Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China
  • About author:Hu Xiaoli, Master, Associate chief physician, Ultrasound Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, Guizhou Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the Science and Technology Supporting Project of Guizhou Province, No. LH[2017]7207

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Pathological change of rheumatoid arthritis is a dynamic process, and selecting appropriate radiology is of great significance for assessing disease progress and making treatment scheme. Musculoskeletal ultrasound as an emerging technology has good application value in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical significance of musculoskeletal ultrasound in the evaluation of pathological features and inflammatory lesions of rheumatoid arthritis.
METHODS: Sixty patients with rheumatoid arthritis were selected, underwent musculoskeletal ultrasound and MRI, and 450 fingers were examined. The detection rates of three typical pathological features of synovial hyperplasia, joint effusion and bone erosion were recorded. The serum indexes (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and rheumatoid factor) were detected. The hypersensitivity C-reaction protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and rheumatoid factor of the patients with different grades of synovial thickness and synovial blood flow signal were compared. The resistance index of artery in the synovium was compared between active and inactive patients.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The detection rates of synovial hyperplasia, joint effusion and bone erosion by musculoskeletal ultrasound were 71.33%, 55.78% and 27.33%, respectively. The detection rates by MRI were 74.44%, 45.33% and 29.78% respectively. There was no significant difference in the detection rate of synovial hyperplasia and bone erosion between two methods (P > 0.05), but the detection rate of joint effusion by musculoskeletal ultrasound was higher than that by MRI (P < 0.05). (2) Spearman correlation analysis showed that synovial thickness was not correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and rheumatoid factor (r=0.463, 0.813, 0.459, P > 0.05), and synovial blood flow signal was positively correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and rheumatoid factor (r=0.623, 0.498, 0.591, P < 0.05). (3) The resistance index of artery in the synovium of active patients was lower than that of inactive patients (P < 0.05). (4) To conclude, musculoskeletal ultrasound has considerable benefit for the evaluation of pathological features of rheumatoid arthritis with MRI, but it has higher application value. Musculoskeletal ultrasound can reflect the inflammatory condition through detecting the thickness of the synovial membrane, blood flow signal and the resistance index of artery in the synovium, and it is important to evaluate the disease condition and make the treatment plan.

Key words: musculoskeletal ultrasound, rheumatoid finger arthritis, pathological features, inflammatory lesions, synovial hyperplasia, periosteal thickness, joint effusion, bone erosion

CLC Number: