OP0283 Ultrasonographic evaluation in rheumatoid arthritis using the global omeract/eular ultrasound synovitis score (GLOESS)

Background Recently, a global OMERACT/EULAR ultrasound (US) synovitis score (GLOESS) combining grey-scale (GS) and power-Doppler (PD) scores has been proposed as a novel measurement tool to assess disease activity and response to therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)1,2. However, the ability of GLOESS to differentiate patients with different states of disease activity vs. remission in standard clinical care is not known. Objectives To assess the ability of GLOESS to discriminate between different clinical states of activity vs. remission in RA patients, and to compare clinical, GLOESS and PD US remission criteria and scores in a cross-sectional study. Methods Eighty RA patients from 3 centres were recruited at consecutive clinical visits: 50% were in remission and 50% had active RA according to Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI). SDAI, Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS 28CRP), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), ACR/EULAR remission criteria were assessed. An independent investigator unaware of clinical results performed all US joint examinations of 26 joints. GLOESS, PD, and GS US sum scores per patient were assessed using OMERACT definitions. PD US remission was defined as the PD sum score =0. GLOESS remission was defined as GLOESS score ≤1 thereby also including possible GS grade 1. Results PD US remission was observed in 38 (48%) patients and GLOESS remission in 16 (20%) patients. SDAI (r=0.24; p=0.03) and CDAI (r=0.23; p=0.04) but not DAS28CRP (r=0.21; p>0.05) were weakly correlated with GLOESS scores in the whole joint set. SDAI (r=0.41; p Conclusions We document major discrepancies between US and clinical findings and between clinical scores classifying patients in active disease vs. remission. Patients reaching GLOESS or PD US definitions of remission are partly different from those reaching clinical definitions of remission. References Naredo E, et al. The OMERACT ultrasound task force–status and perspectives. J Rheumatol. 2011;38(9):2063–2067. D9Agostino MA, et al. Exploring a new ultrasound score as a clinical predictive tool in patients with rheumatoid arthritis starting abatacept: results from the APPRAISE study. RMD Open. 2016 5;2(1):e000237. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2015–000237. Acknowledgements We acknowledge P. Durez, B. Lauwerys, A. Durnez, A. Nzeusseu Toukap, F.A. Houssiau for fruitful discussions and/or contribution to recruitment. Disclosure of Interest None declared