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Current smoking, hypertension linked to persistent PDUS activity in inflammatory arthritis patients

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Current smoking and hypertension were found to be correlated with persistent power Doppler ultrasound activity in patients with inflammatory arthritis, according to research presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual European Congress of Rheumatology.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound was performed on 160 patients with early inflammatory arthritis at baseline and at 12 months’ follow-up. Researchers examined the patients with a structured protocol of validated ultrasound items, including B-mode and persistent power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) of the clinically most affected hand and foot. Results were then semiquantitatively graded on a scale of 0 to 3.

Johanna Callhoff, MSc

The researchers obtained sum scores from synovitis grading from B-mode and PDUS. Erosions were recorded as either present or absent in wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints two and three. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between a PDUS score of 1 or greater and erosions at 12 months.

Results showed a B-mode score of 2 or greater was seen in 126 patients and a PDUS sum score of 1 or greater was seen in 108 patients at baseline. At the 12-month follow-up, 33 of the patients had an ongoing PDUS score 1 or greater that was correlated with ongoing clinical activity.

The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a PDUS score of 1 or greater at 12 months was significantly associated with current smoking, hypertension and tender joint count, according to the researchers. Additionally, new erosions that developed at 12 months were correlated with a high B-mode synovitis score greater than 6. – by Monica Jaramillo

Reference:

Callhoff J, et al. Paper #SAT0616. Presented at: European League Against Rheumatism Annual European Congress of Rheumatology; June 10-13, 2015; Rome.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.