Role of Imaging in Management of Hemophilic Patients

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of symptomatology and conventional radiographic scoring in predicting synovial hypertrophy, which could affect the clinical management of hemophilic patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty males (mean age, 14.3 years old) with hemophilic arthropathy, including 34 symptomatic joints and 26 asymptomatic joints (16 knees, 20 ankles, and 24 elbows) had conventional radiographs of individual joints obtained that were rated according to the Arnold-Hilgartner stage and the Pettersson score. The patients also underwent MRI for the detection of synovial hypertrophy. The association of synovial hypertrophy and symptomatology was evaluated using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. The best sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values in detection of synovial hypertrophy using symptomatology and radiographic scoring were calculated.RESULTS. A significant association was seen between symptomatology and synovial hypertrophy of the ...