Value of musculoskeletal ultrasound in assessing the disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To investigate the value of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) in assessing the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods As a retrospective study, clinical data, laboratory test results and MSUS results of 22 joints (2 wrist joints, 10 metacarpophalangeal joints, 2 thumb interphalangeal joints, 8 proximal interphalangeal joints) were collected from 403 hospitalized RA patients (including Han and Uygur patients) in the People′s Hospital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2016 to December 2016. Result (1) There was a positive correlation between swollen joints count, tender joints count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reaction protein and sum scores of articular cavity effusion, Grey Scale (GS), Power Doppler (PD), tenosynovitis in RA patients; (2)there was a positive correlation between DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, SDAI, CDAI and sum scores of effusion, GS, PD, tenosynovitis in RA patients. The ulnar extensor tendon of the wrist of RA patients was more susceptible to extensor tendon than other extensor tendons; (3)there was significant statistical difference between Uygur and Han RA patients in bone erosion (P 0.05). Few Uygur RA patients achieved clinical remission and subclinical synovitis was not detected, while such subclinical synovitis was detected in Han RA patients who achieved clinical remission. Conclusion The MUSU can assess the disease activity of RA patients, and provide a more direct and objective evidence for the rapid evaluation of disease. Key words: Rheumatoid arthritis; Musculoskeletal ultrasound; Disease activity