Some psoriasis patients with pain show abnormalities on ultrasound

Ultrasound abnormalities were seen in 44% of patients with psoriasis who also reported musculoskeletal pain, according to data presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.

Patients with psoriasis who reported pain in entheses, joints or in the lower back were identified from 97 general practitioners in the Rotterdam area and invited to participate in the SENSOR study. Researchers evaluated the six entheses of the Madrid Sonographic Enthesis Index (MASEI) and the elbow according to the MASEI scoring system.

A total of 527 patients with psoriasis who reported musculoskeletal symptoms were evaluated clinically. At least one tender entheses Leeds Enthesitis Index/Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesis Score was present in 83 patients (mean age, 54 years), who were then evaluated with ultrasound. An additional 23 patients (mean age 54 years) with suspected presence of arthritis underwent sonography. Of the two groups, 92% presented ultrasound abnormalities.

In 44%, abnormalities indicative of inflammation were seen in the entheses. Power Doppler readings were positive in 26% of patients, and 4% had a thickened plantar fascia. Fourteen percent of patients had the presence of both inflammation indicators. No difference was seen between patients with suspected enthesitis and patients with suspected arthritis, according to the researchers.

Reference:

Van der Ven M, et al. Paper #139. Presented at: American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting. Nov. 14-19, 2014; Boston.

Disclosure: Van der Ven has no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.