Priyanka Mahadeorao Naranje MBBS, MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Mahesh Prakash MBBS, MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Aman Sharma, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sunil Dogra MBBS, MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Niranjan Khandelwal MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the ultrasound findings in hand joints in patients with psoriatic arthritis and correlate grayscale and power Doppler ultrasonography findings with Disease Activity Score 28. 

This prospective study was performed in 30 patients. Ultrasound evaluation of 28 joints of both hands was undertaken and various findings were recorded including synovial hypertrophy, power Doppler abnormality, soft tissue thickening, tendonitis, joint effusion, periosteal reaction and erosions. Composite ultrasound scores and Disease Activity Score 28 were calculated and compared.

Ultrasound detected more abnormalities in the hand joints than did clinical examination. The frequency of various ultrasound abnormalities were as follows: Synovial hypertrophy was seen in 100%, power Doppler abnormality suggesting hypervascularity in 36.7%, soft tissue thickening in 66.7%, periosteal reaction in 33.3%, erosions in 30% (mostly in DIP and PIP joints) and flexor tendonitis in 6.7% of patients. Significant correlation was found between Disease activity score 28 and gray-scale joint score (GSJS) (Spearman’s ρ: 0.499, P: 0.005), gray-scale joint count (GSJC) (ρ: 0.398, P: 0.029) and power Doppler joint score (PDJS) (ρ: 0.367, P: 0.046). There was a statistically significant difference between remission and low disease activity group, and moderate disease activity group in terms of GSJC, GSJS, PDJC and PDJS (P<0.05). These ultrasound measures were higher in moderate disease activity zone patients.

Ultrasound is a useful modality for the objective assessment of psoriatic arthritis, which can detect joint inflammation to a larger extent than clinically expected. Ultrasound including power Doppler can be used as a modality for assessment of severity of psoriatic arthritis as it correlates with the clinical scoring.

Ultrasound including power Doppler is a very good modality for assessment of severity of psoriatic arthritis.

Naranje, P, Prakash, M, Sharma, A, Dogra, S, Khandelwal, N, Ultrasound Findings in Hand Joints Involvement in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis and Its Correlation with Clinical DAS28 Score.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14013331.html