Polymyalgia Rheumatica Post-SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

There is growing evidence that infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can lead to dysregulation of the immune system and, consequently, the development of autoimmune phenomena. Here, we describe the case of a 75-year-old woman with rheumatic manifestations characterized by intense musculoskeletal pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders, with sudden onset and with the inability to raise her arms. The patient was admitted with severe pain located in the neck and shoulders. Previously, she had oropharyngeal pain, severe fatigue, and fever; a real-time polymerase chain reaction test for COVID-19 was positive. Two weeks later, the patient presented localized musculoskeletal pain in the neck and shoulders. Relevant laboratory results included an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 46 mm/hr and a negative rheumatoid factor test; ultrasound findings with bilateral subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis were observed. A diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) was initially made according to the EULAR/ACR provisional classification criteria for PMR; however, due to C-reactive protein negativity, the diagnosis was established based on symptoms. Management was with prednisone at the dose of 25 mg/day for 4 weeks and progressive reduction until prednisone suspension. The patient showed complete recovery at 6 months of follow-up. In this case, COVID-19 was implicated in the development of autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic manifestations. PMR is a rare rheumatic condition that should be included in the wide range of rheumatologic manifestations expressed post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Low prevalence of subclinical synovitis in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in long-term clinical remission on medication.

Subclinical synovitis is highly prevalent in patients with JIA in clinical remission (CR) with a short duration. The objective was to evaluate its prevalence by ultrasound (US) in patients with JIA in long CR during a one-year follow-up. In this prospective and longitudinal study, we included 76 patients with JIA according to ILAR with CR by the Wallace modified criteria and JADAS27 and compared them with 22 patients with active disease. Clinical and demographic characteristics were recorded. US evaluation was by 10-joint count. Differences in US evaluations were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test. There were no differences among the two group with regard to disease duration at enrollment, and age (p = 0.540 and p = 0.080, respectively), but JADAS 27, CHAQ, and acute phase reactants were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the clinically active group. The prevalence of subclinical synovitis at baseline and the end of the study in the CR group was 18.4% and 11.8%, respectively, while it was 100% and 40.9% in the active disease group. Subclinical synovitis at baseline was significantly more prevalent in the clinically active group (elbow, p = 0.01; wrist, p = 0.001; MCP 2, p = 0.001; knee, p = 0.001 and ankle p = 0.001; and PD only in the ankle, p = 0.002). The concordance of inter-reader reliability in all evaluated joints was excellent (p = 0.001). Although the prevalence of subclinical synovitis is low in patients with JIA with long-term clinical remission on medication, a percentage of patients continue to have subclinical involvement that could predict the risk of relapse and structural damage. Key Points • Subclinical synovitis is less prevalent in JIA in long-term clinical remission compared to patients in short-term remission. • The persistence of imaging signs of inflammation in a significant percentage of patients may indicate the need for ongoing medication.

A Novel Technique for the Evaluation and Interpretation of Elastography in Salivary Gland Involvement in Primary Sjögren Syndrome.

Ultrasound (US) of major salivary glands (MSG) evaluates echogenicity, border features and vascularization, with elastography, it can detect tissue elasticity and glandular fibrosis, related to inflammation in Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). This study aimed to develop a novel technique by pixel analysis for evaluation and interpretation of elastography in MSG in pSS. A cross-sectional and observational multicenter study was conducted. The US of MSG performed in orthogonal planes in grayscale, Doppler, and shear-wave elastography. For elastography images of each gland were analyzed with the open-source program ImageJ to perform a pixel analysis. Statistical analysis was performed with the IBM-SPSS v25 program. Fifty-nine women with a mean age of 57.69 (23-83) years were recruited; pSS mean duration of 87 (5-275) months, and 12 healthy women without sicca symptoms as a control group with a mean age of 50.67 (42-60) years. Intragroup analysis showed p-values >0.05 between sicca symptoms, ocular/dryness tests, biopsy, US, and pixel analysis; correlation between Hocevar and pixel analysis was not found (rho < 0.1, p >0.5). MSG anatomical size was 41.7 ± 28.2 mm vs. 67.6 ± 8.8 mm (p ≤ 0.0001); unstimulated whole saliva flow rate was 0.80 ± 0.80 ml/5 min vs. 1.85 ± 1.27 ml/5 min (p = 0.016). The elastography values (absolute number of pixels) were 572.38 ± 99.21 vs. 539.69 ± 93.12 (p = 0.290). A cut-off point risk for pSS identified with less than 54% of red pixels in the global MSG mass [OR of 3.8 95% CI (1.01-15.00)]. Pixel analysis is a new tool that could lead to a better understanding of the MSG chronic inflammatory process in pSS.

Entheseal Involvement in Spondyloarthritis (SpA) and Gout: An Ultrasound Comparative Study.

Objective: To compare the assessment of entheses in subjects with spondyloarthritis (SpA) with patients with gout by the Madrid Sonographic Enthesis Index (MASEI). Method: This cross-sectional study includes videos of entheses evaluated by ultrasound (US) of 30 patients with SpA diagnosed according to the ASAS criteria and 30 patients with gout established by the presence of monosodium urate crystals. Entheses were evaluated for MASEI in 2 Institutes located in two different countries. Demographic and clinical data were registered. Total MASEI score, MASEI-inflammatory, and MASEI-chronic damage were analyzed. Comparisons between groups were obtained by chi-square test and Student's t-test. An inter-reading US reliability was realized. Results: Patients with gout were older and had significantly more comorbidities than those with SpA. The total MASEI score was not significantly different among diseases (p = 0.07). MASEI-inflammatory was significantly more prevalent at the Achilles tendon in SpA, while the proximal patellar tendon was in gout. Power Doppler was higher in SpA compared to gout (p = 0.005). MASEI-chronic damage related to calcification/enthesophytes predominated in gout (p = 0.043), while calcaneal erosions did in SpA (p = 0.008). The inter-reader concordance was excellent (0.93, CI 95% 0.87-0.96, p = 0.001). Conclusions: SpA and gout similarly involve entheses according to MASE, however, some inflammatory and chronic lesions differ significantly depending on the underlying disease and tendon scanned.

Tenosinovitis en artritis reumatoidea, evaluación por ultrasonido y resonancia magnética / Tenosynovitis in rheumatoid arthritis, ultrasound and magnetic resonance evaluation

La tenosinovitis es una manifestación frecuente de la artritis reumatoidea (AR), asociada a la presencia de rupturas tendinosas, discapacidad funcional y procesos erosivos de las articulaciones adyacentes. En los últimos años el manejo clínico de la AR ha sido respaldado por diferentes métodos de evaluación por imágenes, como la ultrasonografía (US) y la resonancia magnética (RM). Estas son herramientas de gran utilidad en la práctica clínica porque permiten la detección precoz de la actividad de la enfermedad y, por lo tanto, un tratamiento oportuno. Por medio de diferentes escalas de evaluación del daño articular y periarticular (como el tendinoso) es posible valorar el estado de la enfermedad y la respuesta al tratamiento. La presente revisión tiene como objetivo describir las escalas de evaluación de la RM y la US en la valoración de la tenosinovitis en pacientes con AR.

Tenosynovitis is a frequent manifestation of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), it is associated with tendon ruptures, functional disability, and erosive processes in the adjacent joints. In recent years, RA clinical management has been supported by different imaging methods such as ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance (MR). These methods are particularly useful tools in clinical practice because they allow the early detection of disease activity and, therefore, prompt treatment. Through different evaluation scales of joint and periarticular damage (such as tendon) they also make possible to assess the state of the disease and the treatment response. The present review aims to describe the scores described for MRI and US to evaluate tenosynovitis in RA patients.

Prolidase expression in knee osteoarthritis and healthy controls: Observational study.

ABSTRACT: Prolidase enzyme activity is important for collagen resynthesis. In late stages of osteoarthritis (OA) its activity is decreased.To evaluate prolidase expression in knees of patients undergoing total arthroplasty for OA, and compare with young people undergoing knee arthroscopy due to traumatic injuries.In this cross-sectional study we included 20 patients with OA grade IV who underwent total knee arthroplasty and 20 controls of young patients who underwent arthroscopy for another reason besides OA. All participants were evaluated by knee ultrasound before the procedure. During the procedure, synovial tissue biopsies were taken and analyzed by immunofluorescence to search inflammation. Measures of central tendency, dispersion measures and position measures were used for the case of quantitative variables. Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test, and the logistic regression of Cox, was used.Prolidase expression in the synovial biopsy was significantly lower in the OA group than in the controls (0.017 ±â€Š0.009 vs 0.062 ±â€Š0.094, P < .05). Power Doppler (PD) signal was present in the synovitis of all knee recesses of the OA group in grayscale and in 17 (85%) of knees. The mean of the micro-vessel count in patients with OA was significantly higher vs controls (11 + 5.3 vs 4 + 2.1, P = .001). The neovascularization correlated significantly with the presence of PD signal in patients with OA (1.16, 95% CI, 1.02-1.34, P = .02).The prolidase expression in the synovial membrane evaluated by immunofluorescence, in patients with late stages of knee OA, is low, which may be interpreted as an evidence of decreased collagen resynthesis.

Synovial fluid analysis for the enhanced clinical diagnosis of crystal arthropathies in a tertiary care institution.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Few studies have addressed the detection and clinical impact of different crystals in patients with diverse rheumatologic diagnoses in Latin America. The aim of this study was to assess the consistency between the clinical referring diagnosis and the identification of crystals, such as monosodium urate (MSU) and calcium pyrophosphate (CPP), in the synovial fluid (SF) of patients from a Mexican tertiary care institution. METHODS: We reviewed the results of 264 SF analyses to identify any changes in diagnosis upon SF analysis. We reported patient medical file data on sex, age, diagnosis, and microscopic SF analysis results. We performed consistency analyses between referring diagnoses and SF findings with McNemar's test. RESULTS: The prevalence of MSU crystals in SF was noted in 89.1% of gout cases and 9.09% of cases of calcium pyrophosphate disease (CPPD). CPP crystals were present in 54.5% of CPPD cases, 42.9% of osteoarthritis (OA) cases, and 7.27% of gout cases. Calcium hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals were identified in 5.45% of gout cases, 33.3% of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases, 57.1% of OA cases, and 63.6% of CPPD cases. Cholesterol and lipid crystals were present in small proportions in RA cases. Glucocorticoid crystals were observed in 1.85% of gout cases, 44.4% of RA cases, and 42.9% of OA cases. We observed an association of MSU identification with clinical suspicion of gout (P = 0.08), CPP with OA (P = 0.26) and CPPD (P = 0.50). An association was noted between HA and the diagnosis of CPPD (P = 0.84) and OA (P > 0.99). The number of initial diagnoses that changed upon SF analysis was 14.3%. CONCLUSIONS: SF analysis has major diagnostic value regarding MSU crystals and gout. Our findings underscore the importance of SF crystal analysis in identifying the prevalence of crystals in the Mexican population. SF analysis provides for better diagnosis of crystal arthropathies and improves the quality of the medical care that the patient receives. Key Points • Synovial fluid analysis in laboratories from developing countries has been scarce. • In some cases, the initial diagnosis is modified after of synovial fluid analysis. • This study confirmed that synovial fluid analysis exhibits major diagnostic value for urate crystals and gout.

Ultrasound characterization of the nail bed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the ultrasound findings of the nail plate and nail bed in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its association with nail dystrophy. METHODS: Thirty-two SLE patients, 36 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 20 healthy individuals were studied. High-frequency linear ultrasound was performed in nails of the second to fifth fingers in all participants. Disease activity (SLEDAI-2K index), accrued organ damage (SLICC/ACR index), autoantibody profile, and Raynaud's phenomenon were also assessed in SLE patients. RESULTS: Nail bed thickness in SLE patients was higher than in healthy individuals (1.25 ± 0.31 mm vs 1.17 ± 0.29 mm; P = 0.01) but lower than in OA (1.39 ± 0.37 mm; P < 0.001), while nail plate thickness was similar among groups. Nail dystrophy was found more frequently in SLE and OA than in healthy individuals. SLE patients with nail dystrophy were older than their counterparts with no dystrophy (39.4 ± 10.4 years vs 27.8 ± 5.6 years; P = 0.004), although nail dystrophy showed no association with SLICC/ACR, SLEDAI-2K, nail bed vascularity, or autoantibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Nail bed in SLE patients is thicker than in healthy individuals but thinner than in OA patients. Nail dystrophy in SLE is associated with advanced age, but not with accrued organ damage, disease activity, Raynaud's phenomenon, or DIP synovitis assessed by ultrasound.

Reliability of OMERACT ultrasound elementary lesions in gout: results from a multicenter exercise.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the outcome measures in rheumatology (OMERACT) definitions for ultrasound (US) elementary lesions in gout through an image reading exercise. Images from patients with gout (static images and videos) were collected. As an initial step, we carried out a image reading exercise within the experts of the Pan-American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) US Study Group (n = 16). The following step consisted in a web-based exercise with the participation of larger number of sonographers (n = 63) from different centers. Images were rated evaluating the presence/absence of any US elementary lesion. Inter- and intra-reader reliabilities were analyzed using kappa coefficients. Participants were stratified according to their level of experience. In the first exercise, inter-reader kappa values were 0.45 for aggregates, 0.57 for tophus, 0.69 for erosions, and 0.90 for double contour (DC). Intra-reader kappa values were 0.86, 0.76, 0.80, and 0.90, respectively. The web-based exercise showed inter-reader kappa values for aggregates, tophus, erosions, and DC of 0.42, 0.49, 0.69, and 0.79, respectively. The intra-reader kappa values were 0.62, 0.69, 0.77, and 0.85, respectively. Reliability was not influenced by the sonographer's level of experience. The reliability of the new OMERACT US definitions for elementary lesions in gout ranged from moderate to excellent, depending on the type of lesion.

Reliability of ultrasonography to detect inflammatory lesions and structural damage in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography (MSUS) is an important tool for the clinical assessment in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of MSUS to detect elementary lesions: synovitis, tenosynovitis, cartilage damage and bone erosions in the wrist and metacarpal (MCP) joints of patients with JIA. METHODS: Thirty children in various subgroups of JIA according to ILAR criteria, were included in this cross-sectional study. Clinical data including painful, swollen and limited joints were recorded. Five rheumatologist ultrasonographers, blinded to the clinical evaluation, evaluated the presence of elementary lesions in the wrist and MCP 2 and 3 joints bilaterally. The synovitis was graded in B-Mode and Power Doppler (PD). In addition to descriptive statistics intra- and inter-observer reliability was calculated using Cohen's kappa according to Landis and Koch. RESULTS: US detected more synovitis than the clinical examination (62% vs 28%, 30% vs 23% and 22% vs 17% in the wrist, second and third MCP joints respectively). The intra-observer concordance for synovitis in all joints was excellent in B-Mode (k 0.84 .63-1.0 p = 0.001), except for MCP 2, where it was good (0.61, IC 95% .34-89, p = 0.001). For both modalities (PD, B-Mode) tenosynovitis, cartilage damage and bone erosions it was also excellent. Regarding synovitis grading the concordance was excellent for all grades (0.83-1.0, IC 95% 0.51.1.0, p = 0.001), except for grade 1 where it was good (0.61, IC 95% 0.43-.83, p = 0.001). Reliability inter-observer for grayscale synovitis (0.67-0.95, IC 95% 0.67-1.0, p = 0.001), tenosynovitis grayscale (0.89, IC 95% 0.78-0.99, p.001), damage cartilage (0.89, IC 95% 0.78-0.99, p = 0.001), PD (0.66, IC 95% 0.39-1.0, p = 0.001). The concordance for grading synovitis was excellent, but for grayscale grade 1 and 2 (.66, IC 95% .53-.74, p = 0.007) and PD grade 1 and 2 (0.63, IC 95% .58-.91, p = 004) was good. CONCLUSIONS: The intra- and inter-observer reliability of MSUS for inflammatory and structural lesions is good to excellent for the wrist and MCP in patients with JIA.

Levels of Cytokines and MicroRNAs in Individuals With Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia and Ultrasonographic Findings of Gout: A Bench-to-Bedside Approach.

OBJECTIVE: To assess potential associations among serum cytokines and microRNA (miR) levels with ultrasound (US) findings suggestive of urate deposits in chronic asymptomatic hyperuricemia and gout. METHODS: All participants underwent musculoskeletal US and measurements of serum interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and epithelial neutrophil-activating peptide 78, as well as miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-223 levels. RESULTS: Thirty individuals with asymptomatic hyperuricemia, 31 normouricemic controls, and 30 patients with gout were included. The frequency of synovitis and double contour sign using US was similar between asymptomatic hyperuricemia (67% and 27%, respectively) and patients with gout (77% and 27%, respectively), and each had a higher frequency than controls (45% and 0%, respectively). Serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels were similar between patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (mean ± SD 69.7 ± 73.4 and 18.5 ± 25.6 pg/ml, respectively) and gout (mean ± SD 75.8 ± 47.6 and 24.4 ± 31.7 pg/ml, respectively), and higher than controls (mean ± SD 28.2 ± 17.6 and 7.4 ± 6.0 pg/ml, respectively). A similar distribution was observed for miR-155 levels in asymptomatic hyperuricemia, patients with gout, and controls (mean ± SD 0.22 ± 0.18, 0.20 ± 0.14, and 0.08 ± 0.04, respectively). Associations between morphostructural abnormalities suggestive of urate deposits (regardless of clinical diagnosis) and serum markers were assessed. Subjects with urate deposits had higher IL-6 (257.2 versus 47.0 pg/ml; P = 0.005), IL-8 (73.2 versus 12.0 pg/ml; P = 0.026), and miR-155 (0.21 versus 0.16; P = 0.015) levels than those without deposition findings. CONCLUSION: In individuals with chronic asymptomatic hyperuricemia, the presence of synovitis and double contour sign by US may represent a subclinical manifestation of monosodium urate crystal nucleation, capable of triggering inflammatory pathways (IL-6 and IL-8) and mechanisms of intercellular communication (miR-155), similar to what is observed in patients with gout.

Reliability of ultrasound grading traditional score and new global OMERACT-EULAR score system (GLOESS): results from an inter- and intra-reading exercise by rheumatologists.

This study aims to test the reliability of ultrasound to graduate synovitis in static and video images, evaluating separately grayscale and power Doppler (PD), and combined. Thirteen trained rheumatologist ultrasonographers participated in two separate rounds reading 42 images, 15 static and 27 videos, of the 7-joint count [wrist, 2nd and 3rd metacarpophalangeal (MCP), 2nd and 3rd interphalangeal (IPP), 2nd and 5th metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints]. The images were from six patients with rheumatoid arthritis, performed by one ultrasonographer. Synovitis definition was according to OMERACT. Scoring system in grayscale, PD separately, and combined (GLOESS-Global OMERACT-EULAR Score System) were reviewed before exercise. Reliability intra- and inter-reading was calculated with Cohen's kappa weighted, according to Landis and Koch. Kappa values for inter-reading were good to excellent. The minor kappa was for GLOESS in static images, and the highest was for the same scoring in videos (k 0.59 and 0.85, respectively). Excellent values were obtained for static PD in 5th MTP joint and for PD video in 2nd MTP joint. Results for GLOESS in general were good to moderate. Poor agreement was observed in 3rd MCP and 3rd IPP in all kinds of images. Intra-reading agreement were greater in grayscale and GLOESS in static images than in videos (k 0.86 vs. 0.77 and k 0.86 vs. 0.71, respectively), but PD was greater in videos than in static images (k 1.0 vs. 0.79). The reliability of the synovitis scoring through static images and videos is in general good to moderate when using grayscale and PD separately or combined.

Sonographic characterization of Hoffa's fat pad. A pilot study.

This study addresses a topic that was previously unaddressed in the literature: the normal sonographic appearance of the Hoffa's fat pad (HFP) in young, asymptomatic subjects. The aim of the study is to describe the sonoanatomical features of HFP, including its echostructure, echogenicity, elasticity, and vascularization, in subjects without knee pathology. Knees of healthy subjects were examined with grayscale ultrasound (US) to determine the sonographic characteristics of the HFP. Echogenicity was assessed by pixel intensity quantification. Vascularity was evaluated by color Doppler (CD) US. Elasticity of the adipose tissue was examined by sonoelastography. The absence of HFP pathology was confirmed clinically in all participants and by magnetic resonance imaging in randomly selected participants. Seventy-two knees from 36 subjects were assessed. The HFP presented a characteristic well-defined two-layered echostructure: the superficial adipose tissue was hypoechoic with respect to the nearby patellar tendon and contained septae, whereas the deeper layer was homogeneously hypoechoic and lacked connective tissue septae. Echogenicity differed between the superficial and deeper layers (the deeper layer was brighter), suggesting that the degree of acoustic impedance differed between layers. CD detected blood flow in 55.5% of HFPs. The superficial HFP layer presented greater elasticity than the deeper HFP layer (88.8 vs. 75.3 Kpa; p < .001). Our study provides a comprehensive description of the normal sonographic features of the HFP, which is useful to increase the potential of US for the discrimination of pathological findings involving this anatomical area.

Falta de asociación entre inflamación subclínica evaluada por ultrasonido y niveles de citocinas en artritis reumatoide / Lack of association between ultrasound-defined subclinica inflammation and cytokines levels in rheumatoid arthritis

Antecedentes: La artritis reumatoide (AR) es una enfermedad autoinmune crónica que se caracteriza por proliferación sinovial, ruptura de cartílago y destrucción ósea. Los biomarcadores en AR no se utilizan en forma rutinaria para evaluar la inflamación y tampoco la remisión. El ultrasonido musculoesquelético (US) visualiza los cambios en las articulaciones y el daño morfoestructural, mejorando la evaluación de la sinovitis.Objetivo: Identificar y describir la inflamación subclínica en pacientes con AR en re-misión, utilizando US.Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes con AR en remisión. Se realizó una evaluación clí-nica con DAS28; se tomó muestra de sangre para analizar citocinas. Un ecografista reumatólogo sin acceso a datos clínicos realizó un conteo ecográfico utilizando el sco-re-7. Se utilizaron parámetros de tendencia central, análisis de correlación bivariada y X cuadrado. Se estableció un nivel de confianza del 95% y, por tanto, cualquier valor p ≤0.05 se consideró significativo.Resultados: Se incluyeron 38 pacientes con AR. La edad media fue de 45,26±12,24 años. Los niveles de citocinas asociadas al tiempo de la AR desde la remisión, no fue-ron estadísticamente significativas. El ultrasonido en los pacientes evidenció al menos una de las lesiones elementales; en escala de grises, la sinovitis ocurrió en un 94,7%; sinovitis con señal Doppler de poder (DP) 52,6%; en cuanto a erosiones, se registra-ron, respectivamente, un 55,3% en escala de grises y un 15,8% con DP. DAS28 >2,04 fue positivo al asociarse con el recuento de articulaciones dolorosas y significativo (p=0,009). Conclusión: La asociación entre la sinovitis clínica y en ecografía no tiene correlación con los criterios de AR en remisión, independientemente de cuán estricta sea su aplicación.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, character-ized by synovial proliferation, cartilage breakdown and bone destruction. Biomarkers are not routinely used to evaluate inflammation neither remission. Musculoskeletal ultrasound visualizes joint changes and morpho-structural damage improving the as-sessment of synovitis.Objective: To identify and describe subclinical inflammation in patients with RA in remission using US.Methods: RA patients in remission were included. A clinical evaluation and DAS28 score performed; a blood sample took to analyze cytokines. A rheumatologist ultraso-nographer blinded to clinical data performed a US 7-score joint count. Central tenden-cy parameters, bivariate correlation analysis, and X Square were used. A confidence level of 95% was set and, therefore, any p-value ≤0.05 was considered as significant.Results: 38 RA patients were included. Mean age was 45.26±12.24 years. Cytokines associated with the time since remission was not statistically significant. Patients dis-played at least one of US elementary lesions; gray-scale synovitis occurred in 94.7%; synovitis with PD signal 52.6%; gray-scale erosions 55.3% and erosions with PD 15.8% respectively. DAS28 >2.04 positive for tender joint count was significant (p=0.009).Conclusion: The association between the clinical and US synovitis does not correlate with RA remission criteria no matter how strict is its application.

How is the ultrasound in rheumatology used, implemented, and applied in Latin American centers? Results from a multicenter study.

This study aimed to perform an overview of how ultrasound (US) is being used, implemented, and applied in rheumatologic centers in Latin America (LA). A retrospective, multicenter 1-year experience study was undertaken. Eighteen centers from eight countries were involved. The following information were collected: demographic data, indication to perform an US examination, physician that required the examination, and the anatomical region required for the examination. A total of 7167 patients underwent an US examination. The request for US examinations came most frequently from their own institution (5981 (83.45 %)) than from external referral (1186 (16.55 %)). The services that more frequently requested an US examination were rheumatology 5154 (71.91 %), followed by orthopedic 1016 (14.18 %), and rehabilitation 375 (5.23 %). The most frequently scanned area was the shoulder in 1908 cases (26.62 %), followed by hand 1754 (24.47 %), knee 1518 (21.18 %), ankle 574 (8.01 %), and wrist 394 (5.50 %). Osteoarthritis was the most common disease assessed (2279 patients (31.8 %)), followed by rheumatoid arthritis (2125 patients (29.65 %)), psoriatic arthritis (869 patients (12.1 %)), painful shoulder syndrome (545 (7.6 %)), connective tissue disorders (systemic sclerosis 339 (4.7 %), polymyositis/dermatomyositis 107 (1.4 %), Sjögren's syndrome 60 (0.8 %), and systemic lupus erythematosus 57 (0.8 %)). US evaluation was more frequently requested for diagnostic purposes (3981 (55.5 %)) compared to follow-up studies (2649 (36.9 %)), research protocols (339 (4.73 %)), and invasive guided procedures (198 (2.76 %)). US registered increasing applications in rheumatology and highlighted its positive impact in daily clinical practice. US increases the accuracy of the musculoskeletal clinical examination, influence the diagnosis, and the disease management.

Usefulness of measuring common carotid intima-media thickness: ultrasound diagnosis of sub-clinical atherosclerosis in rheumatic diseases. A literature review / Medición del grosor de la íntima-media carotídea: utilidad y diagnóstico ecográfico de aterosclerosis subclínica en enfermedades reumáticas. Revisión de la literatura

INTRODUCTION: Patients with rheumatic diseases have an increased cardiovascular risk due to systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, which promotes accelerated atherosclerosis. One way to measure cardiovascular risk, is through the carotid intima-media thickness which is an inexpensive and non-invasive predictor of cardiovascular events. OBJECTIVE: To examine the evidence to determine the usefulness of ultrasound in the diagnosis of sub-clinical atherosclerosis in rheumatic diseases assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed, using electronic databases of PubMed, for articles published from January 2005 to May 2015, with no lan-guage restriction. Observational cohort studies that assessed the prevalence of sub-clinical atherosclerosis using the IMT were included. RESULTS: A total of 56 studies were identified for analysis, with almost all (95.7%) reporting an increased IMT in relation to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with rheumatic diseases have an increased cardiovascular risk assessed using IMT. This measurement, assessed by carotid ultrasound, may help detect the risk of sub-clinical cardiovascular disease in these populations, allowing to establish a therapeutic strategy to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality in these patients.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los pacientes con enfermedades reumáticas tienen un aumento del riesgo cardiovascular debido a inflamación sistémica y disfunción endotelial, lo que promueve una acelerada aterosclerosis. Una de las formas de medir el riesgo cardiovascular es a través del grosor de la íntima-media, evaluada por ultrasonido carotídeo, el cual es un predictor de acontecimientos cardiovasculares de bajo costo y naturaleza no invasiva. OBJETIVO: Revisar la evidencia que describe la utilidad y valor del diagnóstico ecográfico de aterosclerosis subclínica en enfermedades reumáticas, evaluadas mediante el grosor de la íntima-media carotídea (GIMc). MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó una revisión de la literatura de la base de datos electrónica PubMed. Se incluyeron artículos desde enero de 2005 a mayo de 2015, sin restricción de idioma. Se incluyeron estudios observacionales de cohorte que evaluaron la prevalencia de aterosclerosis subclínica mediante la medición del GIMc y estudios de meta-análisis. Se verificó la calidad metodológica de los artículos y se extrajo la información relevante de cada uno. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 56 artículos que cumplieron los requisitos. El 95,7% coincidió con el aumento del GIMc en relación con el grupo control, como marcador predictivo de aterosclerosis subclínica. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes con enfermedades reumáticas tienen un aumento del riesgo cardiovascular medido a través del GIMc, como lo muestran varios estudios. Esta medición realizada por ultrasonido carotídeo podría ayudar a detectar el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular subclínica en estas poblaciones, lo que permitiría al clínico implementar medidas terapéuticas para reducir el riesgo de morbimortalidad en estos pacientes.

Ultrasonography in pediatric rheumatology in Latin America. Expanding the frontiers.

For the past two decades, musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSKUS) has developed exponentially and has become an essential tool in rheumatology practice. This development has been far more limited in pediatric rheumatology which is partially related to deficits in the evidence base. Many studies have shown that MSKUS is more sensitive than the clinical examination for detecting synovitis and enthesitis in adults. At the same time, there is a lack of studies demonstrating its validity, reliability, and reproducibility in pediatric rheumatology. In addition, clear definitions for the normal pediatric joint and enthesis as well as various findings in pathology associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSpA) have only started to emerge. Most of this work is being done through the Outcome Measurement in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) ultrasound pediatric task force but the Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) US Pediatric Task Force is also working on validating MSKUS in children. In addition, several MSKUS courses for pediatric rheumatologists have been offered in Latin American countries; these will not only complement the scientific work pediatric-specific ultrasonography training, but also represents an essential component for the successful implementation of this technique into daily practice as well.

New Ultrasound Modalities in Rheumatology.

Over the years, ultrasound (US) has accumulated important evidence supporting its relevant role for the assessment of inflammatory processes of different rheumatologic diseases, as well as in the follow-up in assessing the response to different therapeutic approaches. This has been possible because of the increase in training, competency, and knowledge, as well as the rapid progress in the US technologies.Currently, some US machines can be equipped by sophisticated software modalities (i.e., 3-dimensional US, elastosonography, automated cardiovascular software, and fusion imaging) that can augment US traditional role as a safe, fast, and easy-to-perform modality and giving it new life and increased relevance in rheumatology. In this article, we evaluated the US developments, from conventional B-mode to more sophisticated technologies, and their potential clinical impact in the field of rheumatology.Three-dimensional US can improve the accuracy of the assessment of bone erosions and the quantification of power Doppler because of its multiplanar view including coronal, axial and sagital view. Elastosonography is still looking for its role in rheumatology. Preliminary works induce us to consider it as a promise tool for the assessment of tendon pathology and skin of patients with connective tissue disorders. The automated method for the measurement of carotid intima-media thickness permits a rapid and accurate assessment. The preliminary published data showed that it is reliable, and valid compared to the traditional method; they also support the future of rheumatologists as the direct operators in evaluating the cardiovascular risk in daily practice. Fusion imaging increases the diagnostic power of US, displaying simultaneously in the monitor, the US image, and the corresponding computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging image. However, there are no sufficient data supporting its application in daily rheumatologic practice.

Molecular basis of oxidative stress in gouty arthropathy.

Gout is a disorder of urate metabolism in which persistent high urate levels in the extracellular fluids result in the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal in joints and periarticular tissues. In recent years, this disease represents an increasingly common health problem, so the pace of investigation in the field has accelerated tremendously. New research advances in the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia and in the understanding of how MSU crystals induce an acute gouty attack have been focused in this review on the processes of inflammation and involvement of the innate immune response; in addition, we discuss new knowledge about the role of the reactive oxygen species in establishing oxidative stress in MSU crystal-induced arthritis.

Evaluación ecográfica de la glándula salival desde la perspectiva de reumatología / Evaluation of salivary gland by ultrasound from the perspective of rheumatology

The major salivary glands have multiple functions as wet oral mucosa, facilitate swallowing of food, digestion of carbohydrates, control the bacterial flora of the mouth, promote tooth mineralization and immune function by secretory IgA, which they can be altered by some conditions like autoimmune diseases or tumor. Ultrasound is a useful tool for the study of these glands, with the advantage of being safe, inexpensive, reproducible, noninvasive technique. In this review, we make a description of the anatomy and ultrasound anatomy of the major salivary glands and a brief description of the usefulness of elastography in some pathologies of these glands...

Las glándulas salivales mayores tienen múltiples funciones, como humedecer la mucosa oral, facilitar la deglución de alimentos, digestión de carbohidratos, control sobre la flora bacteriana de la boca, favorecen la mineralización de los dientes así como la función inmunológica por la secreción de IgA, las cuales pueden verse alteradas por la afección de enfermedades autoinmunes o tumorales. La ecografía es una técnica útil para el estudio de estas glándulas, con la ventaja de ser inocua, de bajo costo, reproducible y no invasiva. En esta revisión se hacen una descripción de la anatomía y sonoanatomía de las glándulas salivales mayores y una breve descripción de la utilidad de la elastografía en algunas patologías de estas glándulas...