SAT0661 Finger joint cartilage thickness evaluated by ultrasound in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Background Joint destruction in RA includes both bone and cartilage lesions. By X-ray examination, cartilage destruction is evaluated as a joint space narrowing (JSN). However, joint space narrowing is not a direct evaluation of cartilage. Objectives We aimed to examine the finger joint cartilage thickness (CT) by ultrasound (US) imaging and clarify its clinical significance in patients with RA. Methods We enrolled 121 RA patients in low disease activity or clinical remission (DAS28-CRP Results CT in MCP joints ranged from 0.0 to 1.1 mm (median 0.5 mm), and CT in PIP ranged from 0.0 to 0.6mm (median 0.3mm), respectively. The sum of total CT from 8 fingers ranged from 4.0 to 9.4 mm (median 6.9 mm), and there was a significant difference in total CT, but not in JSN score, between male and female patients (7.4 versus 6.7, p=0.006; and 11 versus 10, p=0.899, respectively). CT was well correlated with JSN (ρ=-0.589, p Conclusions A direct visualization and quantification of finger joint CT, especially MCP joints, by US is valid and useful in RA. Disclosure of Interest None declared