SP0167 US FOR ASSESSING LUNG INVOLVEMENT IN RHEUMATIC DISEASES – CLINICAL USE + DEMO

Background: Evaluation of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is always difficult (low sensitivity for X-ray and pulmonary function tests or high level of radiation for HRCT): ultrasound (US) has recently shown interesting results on truth, discrimination and feasibility. Due to the thickening of interlobular septa for edema or fibrosis, US beam can interact with those structure and produce artifacts on the screen: B-lines (BL) and pleural line irregularity (PLI). A positive correlation between BL and HRCT has been established both in systemic sclerosis patients and in other patients with ILD; more recently similar results have been published by using PLI as a finding for US assessment in patients. BL has been recently defined by the OMERACT as a vertical hyperechoic reverberation artifact that arise from the pleural line, extend to the bottom of the screen without fading, and move synchronously with lung sliding, while PLI has been defined as a loss of regularity that may be associated with an increase in thickness, focal, diffuse, or nodular. A low number of BLs has been described in healthy subjects but they are generally confined to the posterior and lower part of the thorax. Up to now, many different scanning protocols have been used to assess BL or PLI in patients, providing similar results. Conclusion: US lung evaluation is a usefull and feasible imaging technique. Disclosure of Interests: Andrea Delle Sedie Speakers bureau: Abbvie, UCB, Celgene, MSD