Power and spectral Doppler ultrasound in suspected active sacroiliitis: a comparison with magnetic resonance imaging as gold standard.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to study with Power Doppler US (PDUS) the SI joints (SIJs) of patients with suspected active sacroiliitis, to describe SIJ flows with spectral wave analysis (SWA) on Doppler US, and to correlate US data with both clinical characteristics and presence of SIJ bone marrow oedema (BME) in subsequent MRI. METHODS: A total of 42 patients (32 females and 10 males, mean age 46.8 years) with recent onset of inflammatory back pain (IBP) were included. Every patient underwent US examination with a convex 1-8 MHz probe [scoring PDUS signals with a three-point scale and describing flows in SWA calculating the mean Resistive Index (RI)] and subsequent MRI of the SIJs. RESULTS: PDUS signals were detected in 34 patients and 62 SIJs. In 29 patients and 56 SIJs, MRI revealed BME. A definite diagnosis of SpA was made in 32 patients. PDUS signals were more frequent (P < 0.0001) in patients with a final diagnosis of SpA, yielding a higher PDUS score (P = 0.0304). PDUS grading correlated with both BME grading (r = 0.740, P = 0.0001) and AS DAS (ASDAS) (r = 0.6257, P = 0.0004), but not with inflammatory reactants nor anthropometric data. Mean RI were, respectively, 0.60 and 0.73 (P < 0.0001) in patients with or without diagnosis of active sacroiliitis. The most inclusive RI cut-off resulted <0.70 [positive predictive value (PPV) 94%, accuracy 90%, P = 0.0001]. The best Likelihood Ratio (5.471) for RI to detect pathologic cases was obtained with a cut-off of <0.60 (PPV 96%). CONCLUSIONS: PDUS and SWA of SIJs demonstrate good diagnostic accuracy for active sacroiliitis compared with MRI.

Polymyalgia rheumatica following infective triggers or vaccinations: a different subset of disease?

OBJECTIVES: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the commonest inflammatory disorder of the elderly; an association with environmental triggers and a deregulated immune response have been described. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of environmental triggers before the onset of PMR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The database of 58 consecutive PMR patients recruited from a single rheumatology secondary care setting was retrospectively analyzed to investigate the frequency of environmental triggers and correlations with clinical characteristics, ultrasound and laboratory data. RESULTS: Fifteen PMR patients (26%) described a connection with environmental agents: six PMR patients reported a vaccination, 4 reported a respiratory tract infection, 5 reported seasonal influenza before the onset of the disease. The model of multivariate linear regression which better predicted a shorter time to normalize inflammatory reactants (R 2 = 27.46%, p = 0.0042) comprised the presence of an environmental trigger and a higher PCR. A linear regression analysis confirmed an inverse correlation between PCR at onset and time to normalize inflammatory reactant (r = -0.3031, p = 0.0208). A significant correlation was demonstrated between presence of environmental trigger and shorter time to normalize inflammation (r = -0.5215, p< 0.0001), and lesser frequency of gleno-humeral synovitis on US (r = -0.3774, p = 0.0038). CONCLUSIONS: Our work describes a correlation between environmental triggers in PMR and higher CRP at diagnosis, faster response to therapy, and milder shoulder synovitis. We may suppose that these patients belong to a more specific subtype of PMR, in whom external stimuli, such as vaccination or infection, may lead to a deregulated response within the context of an impaired senescent immuno-endocrine system.

Clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings at baseline predict long-term outcome of polymyalgia rheumatica: a multicentric retrospective study : Polymyalgia rheumatica predicted by ultrasonographic findings polymyalgia rheumatica outcome predicted early by ultrasound.

To assess the rate of PMR who, during the follow-up, undergo a diagnostic shift as well as to assess which clinical, laboratory and US findings are associated to a diagnostic shift and predict the long-term evolution of PMR. All PMR followed-up for at least 12 months were included. According to the US procedures performed at diagnosis, patients were subdivided into four subgroups. Clinical data from follow-up visits at 12, 24, 48 and 60 months, including a diagnostic shift, the number of relapses and immunosuppressive and steroid treatment, were recorded. A total of 201 patients were included. During the follow-up, up to 60% had a change in diagnosis. Bilateral LHBT was associated with persistence in PMR diagnosis, whereas GH synovitis and RF positivity to a diagnostic shift. Patients undergoing diagnostic shift had a higher frequency of GH synovitis, shoulder PD, higher CRP, WBC, PLT and Hb and longer time to achieve remission, while those maintaining diagnosis had bilateral exudative LHBT and SA-SD bursitis, higher ESR, lower Hb and shorter time to remission. Cluster analysis identified a subgroup of older patients, with lower CRP, WBC, PLT and Hb, lower PD signal or peripheral synovitis who had a higher persistence in PMR diagnosis, suffered from more flares and took more GCs. Most PMR have their diagnosis changed during follow-up. The early use of the US is associated with a lower dosage of GCs. Patients with a definite subset of clinical, laboratory and US findings seem to be more prone to maintain the diagnosis of PMR.

A Novel Ultrasonographic Anthropometric-Independent Measurement of Median Nerve Swelling in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: The "Nerve/Tendon Ratio" (NTR).

Background: There is little consensus on ultrasound (US) normative values of cross-sectional area of median nerve (MN-CSA) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) because of its dependency on anthropometric parameters. We aim to propose a novel anthropometric-independent US parameter: MN-CSA/flexor radialis carpi CSA (FCR-CSA) ratio ("Nerve Tendon Ratio", NTR), in the diagnosis of clinically and electrodiagnostic (EDS)-defined CTS. Methods: 74 wrists of 49 patients with clinically defined CTS underwent EDS (scored by the 1−5 Padua Scale of electrophysiological severity, PS) and US of carpal tunnel with measurement of MN-CSA (at the carpal tunnel inlet), FCR-CSA (over scaphoid tubercle) and its ratio (NTR, expressed as a percentage). US normality values and intra-operator agreement were assessed in 33 healthy volunteers. Results: In controls, the mean MN-CSA was 5.81 mm2, NTR 64.2%. In 74 clinical CTS, the mean MN-CSA was 12.1 mm2, NTR 117%. In severe CTS (PS > 3), the mean MN-CSA was 15.9 mm2, NTR 148%. In CTS, both MN-CSA and NTR correlated with sensitive conduction velocity (SCV) (p < 0.001), distal motor latency (DML) (p < 0.001) and PS (p < 0.001), with a slight superiority of NTR vs. MN-CSA when controlled for height, wrist circumference and weight. In CTS filtered for anthropometric extremes, only NTR maintained a correlation with SCV (p = 0.023), DML (p = 0.016) and PS (p = 0.009). Diagnostic cut-offs were obtained with a binomial regression analysis. In those patients with a clinical diagnosis of CTS, the cut-off of MN-CSA (AUROC: 0.983) was 8 mm2 (9 mm2 with highest positive predictive value, PPV), while for NTR (AUROC: 0.987), the cut-off was 83% (100% with highest PPV). In patients with EDS findings of severe CTS (PS > 3), the MN-CSA (AUROC: 0.876) cut-off was 12.3 mm2 (15.3 mm2 with highest PPV), while for NTR (AUROC: 0.858) it was 116.2% (146.0% with highest PPV). Conclusions: NTR can be simply and quickly calculated, and it can be used in anthropometric extremes.

Sonographic diagnosis of neurogenic heterotopic ossification in patients with severe acquired brain injury in a neurorehabilitation unit.

PURPOSE: To illustrate the ultrasonographic (US) and power Doppler US (PDUS) features of neurogenic heterotopic ossification (NHO) in consecutive patients with severe acquired brain injury and to evaluate the role of bedside US in diagnosis of NHO. METHODS: Ninety-two consecutive patients with severe acquired brain injury underwent clinical and laboratory screening for NHO. In 6 of 92 patients, bedside US confirmed the clinical suspicion of NHO. US diagnosis of NHO was then confirmed by other imaging methods. RESULTS: The incidence of clinical NHO was 7% (9/92) with one patient having multifocal involvement. In NHO of the hip, US demonstrated the classic pattern of zone phenomenon, and PDUS demonstrated vascular signal within mineralized NHO and in outer hypoechoic area. No vascular signal was observed in the central hypoechoic core. In NHO of the knee, a heterogeneously hypoechoic mass was seen and in the elbow a hyperechoic mineralized mass was visualized, with vascular signals seen within the lesions. Spectral wave analysis demonstrated low resistance vessels in NHO. CONCLUSIONS: Bedside US is a useful tool in the diagnosis of NHO. PDUS adds data regarding neoangiogenetic activity of NHO.

Atypical Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) in a Patient with Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a potentially life-threatening condition, composed of focal neurologic symptoms and peculiar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings suggestive for cerebral vasogenic edema. PRES has been predominantly associated with severe hypertension, but a concomitant inflammatory state, common in vasculitis, can contribute to worsening cerebral vasogenic edema towards cytotoxic edema, and it should be promptly treated with glucocorticoids (GC). Atypical cases of PRES should be suspected in cases of focal neurologic symptoms, associated with severe hypertension, and systemic inflammation. We report the first description of a patient with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis who developed PRES after GC discontinuation for arthroscopic surgery.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia after stroke: incidence, diagnosis, and clinical predictors in patients admitted to a neurorehabilitation unit.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed patients with stroke in a neurorehabilitation unit to define incidence of dysphagia, compare clinical bedside assessment and videofluoroscopy (VFS), and define any correlation between dysphagia and clinical characteristic of patients. METHODS: In all, 151 consecutive inpatients with recent ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke were enrolled. RESULTS: Dysphagia was clinically diagnosed in 62 of 151 patients (41%). A total of 49 patients (79% of clinically dysphagic patients) underwent VFS. Six patients clinically suggested to be dysphagic had a normal VFS finding. The correlation between clinical and VFS diagnosis of dysphagia was significant (r = 0.6505). Penetrations and aspirations were observed, respectively, in 42.8% and 26.5% of patients with dysphagia, with 12.2% classified as silent. Lower respiratory tract infections were observed in 5.9%, more frequently in patients with dysphagia (30%). Dysphagia was not influenced by type of stroke. Cortical stroke of nondominant side was associated with dysphagia (P = .0322) and subcortical nondominant stroke showed a reduced frequency of dysphagia (P = .0008). Previous cerebrovascular disease resulted associated to dysphagia (P = .0399). Patients with dysphagia had significantly lower functional independence measurement (FIM) and level of cognitive functioning on admission and lower FIM on discharge, longer hospital stay, and more frequent malnutrition, and they were more frequently aphasic and dysarthric. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was used in 18 of 151 patients (11.9%) (41.8% of patients with VFS-proved dysphagia). CONCLUSIONS: Dysphagia occurs in more than a third of patients with stroke admitted to rehabilitation. Clinical assessment demonstrates good correlation with VFS. The grade of dysphagia correlates with dysarthria, aphasia, low FIM, and level of cognitive functioning. Large cortical strokes of nondominant side are associated with dysphagia.

Bedside ultrasound in early diagnosis of neurogenic heterotopic ossification in patients with acquired brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate ultrasound (US) and power Doppler US (PDUS) aspects of neurogenic heterotopic ossification (NHO) in consecutive patients with severe acquired brain injury, to evaluate the role of bedside US and PDUS in early diagnosis of NHO, to study incidence and outcome of NHO in this neurorehabilitative setting. METHODS: Ninety-two consecutive patients with severe acquired brain injury underwent clinical and laboratory screening to pose suspect of NHO. In 6/92 patients bedside US examination confirmed the clinical suspect of NHO. US diagnosis of NHO was then confirmed by other imaging methods. All affected patients started therapy with indometacin, disodium etidronate, 6-methylprednisolone and they were followed-up for 1 year to evaluate the outcome. RESULTS: The incidence of NHO in this setting was 6.5% (only one patient with multifocal involvement). In hip NHO US demonstrated the classical pattern of zone phenomenon, and PDUS demonstrated vascular signals within mineralized NHO and in the outer hypoechoic area. No vascular signal was observed in the central hypoechoic core. In knee and elbow NHO only a heterogeneously hypoechoic mass or hyperechoic mineralized mass were respectively evident, with vascular signals within the lesions at PDUS. Spectral wave analysis (SWA) demonstrated low resistance vessels in NHO. After 1 year of therapy only one patient showed a severe ankylosis of the hips. CONCLUSIONS: Bedside US is a safe, cheap and useful tool in diagnosis of NHO and it allows to start therapy in early stages of NHO formation. PDUS adds data about neoangiogenetic activity of early NHO.

Ultrasound of enthesopathy in rheumatic diseases.

Enthesopathy is the pathologic change of the insertion of tendons, ligaments and joint capsules on the bone. It is a cardinal feature of spondyloarthropathies (SpA), but it can occur in other rheumatic disease. Recent studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) have demonstrated that enthesopathy can often be asymptomatic, in both the axial and peripheral skeleton. Therefore, a systematic US study of peripheral entheses could be useful in the diagnostic process of patients with rheumatic diseases, in particular SpA. Recently, power Doppler US (PDUS) has been proved to be useful for differentiating mechanical/degenerative and inflammatory enthesopathy and for monitoring the efficacy of therapy. This article reviews the main histopathologic aspects of enthesopathy and describes the normal US features of enthesis and the basic US features of enthesopathy, in its various stages. The usefulness of US and PDUS in the diagnosis and assessment of enthesopathy is discussed on the basis of the literature and our experience.

Ultrasonographic study of Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in chondrocalcinosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate by high frequency grey-scale ultrasonography (US) and power Doppler sonography (PDS) the modality and frequency of involvement of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in chondrocalcinosis (CC), and to correlate these findings with clinical complaints and radiographic evidence. METHODS: The heels of 57 consecutive patients with CC were evaluated by US, PDS, and radiography. One control group of 50 consecutive patients with osteoarthritis (OA) without signs of CC was studied in the same way. A second control group of 50 healthy subjects underwent only US/PDS examination. All subjects also underwent clinical assessment. RESULTS: US revealed Achilles tendon calcifications in 57.9% of those with CC, but none in the control groups. Plantar fascia calcifications were observed in 15.8% of CC and in 2% of OA cases, but not in healthy controls. US showed no significant difference in postero-inferior and inferior calcaneal enthesophytosis between subjects with CC (59.6% and 61.4%, respectively) and those with OA (46% and 44%, respectively). Such alterations were also present, in lower percentages, in the healthy controls. Posterior and inferior calcaneal erosions were absent in all groups. Achilles enthesopathy was found in 22.8% of patients with CC (14.9% of heels, with vascular signals in 11.4% of heels on PDS). Deep retrocalcaneal bursitis was found in 10.5% of patients with CC (7% of heels, with vascular signals in 5.2% of heels on PDS). Plantar fasciitis was found in 40.3% of patients with CC (36% of heels, with vascular signals in 2.6% of heels on PDS) and in 14% of OA patients, but not in healthy controls. No significant correlation was found between talalgia or sex of patients and presence of calcifications. A significant correlation was observed between talalgia and Achilles enthesopathy (r = 0.78, p < 0.0001), deep retrocalcaneal bursitis (r = 0.7, p < 0.0001), and plantar fasciitis (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). A significant correlation between talalgia and vascular signals on PDS was observed in Achilles enthesopathy (r = 0.91, p < 0.0001) and deep retrocalcaneal bursitis (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001). The presence of vascular signals on PDS was significantly associated with the presence of tendinous and bursal grey-scale US alterations. Achilles tendon calcifications were 39% sensitive, 100% specific, and 77% accurate for the presence of CC, whereas plantar fascia calcifications were 15% sensitive, 98% specific, and 54% accurate. Excellent agreement was found between US and radiography in detecting Achilles tendon calcifications (k = 0.86), plantar fascia calcifications (k = 0.77), postero-inferior enthesophytosis (k = 0.90), and inferior enthesophytosis (k = 0.83). CONCLUSION: Calcaneal tendon calcifications are frequent and asymptomatic findings in patients with CC, and they have a high specificity for this disease. US shows high agreement with radiography in depicting calcifications and enthesophytosis. Inflammatory changes of the calcaneal soft tissues are frequently observed by US and PDS in patients with chondrocalcinosis.

Enthesitis of proximal insertion of the deltoid in the course of seronegative spondyloarthritis. An atypical enthesitis that can mime impingement syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To study the frequence of deltoideal proximal insertion enthesitis (DPIE) in patients affected with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to evaluate its clinical, sonographic and radiological characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective study of clinical, sonographic and radiological examinations of the shoulders of 100 symptomatic consecutive outpatients with SpA, compared to 4 groups of control patients: 100 with Rheumatoid Arthritis, 100 with Osteoarthritis, 100 with Painful Shoulder, and 50 with shoulders undamaged by local pathological processes. RESULTS: The frequence of DPIE in the course of SpA was 9%. DPIE appears most frequently in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) (17%, 7/41). DPIE does not appear to be related to the sex or the age of the patient. The clinical signs and symptoms are similar to those of an impingement syndrome. Sonography reveals thickening and hypoechogenicity of the enthesis, associated or not to the subchondral osseous rearrangement and enthesophytosis. Radiology only reveals the enthesophytosis in the later stages. CONCLUSIONS: DPIE can determine shoulder pain in the course of SpA, and in particular in PsA. The clinical manifestations of DPIE are very similar to those of an impingement syndrome; sonography can differentiate the two conditions.

Effects of high dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy on bone mass and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a 12-month randomized prospective controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of one year of high dose 6-methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPPT) on bone mass, seric bone alkaline phosphatase (sBAP), and urinary deoxypyridinoline (uDpyr) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to compare results with those of patients with active RA treated with oral methylprednisolone (OMP). METHODS: Thirty-one women with active RA were given 1000 mg of MP IV for 3 alternate days, with a mean interval of administration of 76 days (+/- 8.3 SD) for one year (MPPT group). Bone mineral density (BMD) (total body, lumbar spine, and femur neck), plasma levels of sBAP, and urinary concentrations of uDpyr were assessed at the beginning of the treatment and every 3 months until the end of the study. Moreover, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Thompson joint score, and early morning stiffness were assessed at study entry and every month. The control group, 31 women with active RA treated with oral MP, was followed in the same way (OMP group). RESULTS: In the MPPT group there was no significant reduction of BMD at any site compared to significant reductions in lumbar BMD at 6 and 12 months and total body BMD and femur neck BMD at 12 months in the OMP group. Also in the OMP group, a significant reduction in the mean sBAP was observed. The mean uDpyr levels were not significantly reduced in either group. CONCLUSION: Our results show that MPPT, compared to continuous therapy with oral corticosteroids, preserves bone mass without modifying the biochemical markers of bone metabolism.

Evidence for synovitis in active polymyalgia rheumatica: sonographic study in a large series of patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and localization of synovitis and enthesitis in patients with active, untreated polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) by ultrasonography (US). METHODS: Polyarticular sonographic evaluation was carried out in 50 consecutive patients with PMR at disease onset. Results were compared with 50 consecutive patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SpA) and 50 with seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at disease onset. RESULTS: Synovitis and/or effusion was detected, in at least one joint, in 100% of patients with PMR. The most frequent alterations observed in patients with PMR were effusion in the subacromial-subdeltoid (SA-SD) bursa in 70% of patients, tenosynovitis of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) in 68%, glenohumeral joint effusion in 66%, tenosynovitis of the flexor tendons in the carpal tunnel in 38%, radiocarpal effusion in 18%, wrist extensors tenosynovitis in 18%, coxofemoral joint effusion in 40%. knee effusion in 38%, and ankle effusion in 10%. Enthesitis and tendonitis of the anchoring tendons were relatively rare in all the articular sites. Comparison of the SpA and PMR patients showed that enthesitis (mostly in the elbow, knee, and heel) was significantly more frequent in SpA. There was a significant difference in glenohumeral and coxofemoral effusion between the PMR and SpA patients (66% vs 16% and 40% vs 14%, respectively). Comparison of PMR and RA patients showed no significant difference in the involvement of entheses, shoulder, hip, or wrist flexor tendons in the carpal tunnel. Synovitis of the elbow, knee, and wrist was significantly more frequent in the SpA and RA patients than in those with PMR. CONCLUSION: Synovitis was detected in at least one site in 100% of patients with PMR. SA-SD bursitis, LHBT tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and glenohumeral, knee and hip synovitis were the most frequent alterations in PMR. Enthesitis was relatively rare at any articular site.