Ultrasonography in rheumatology: time to learn from patient views.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre study was to assess the perceived quality and grade of satisfaction expressed by patients with chronic arthropathies regarding the use of musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasonography by rheumatologists as an integrated clinical care tool. METHODS: All Spanish rheumatology departments with MSK ultrasonography incorporated in their healthcare services were invited to participate in the study. A Spanish-language survey was offered to fill out anonymously to all consecutive patients with chronic arthropathies under follow-up in the rheumatology outpatient clinics who attended their centre for a period of 3 months. The survey consisted of three sections. The first section contained patients' demographics, disease data, frequency of performing rheumatological ultrasound and information about who performed their ultrasound assessments. The second section consisted of 14 questions about patient's experience and opinion on different aspects of the management, performance and perceived usefulness of performing ultrasound, to be answered on a Likert scale 1-5. The third section of the survey was addressed to the rheumatologist ultrasonographers. RESULTS: Nine hundred and four patients from 16 university hospital rheumatology departments completed the survey. All questions reached an overall favourable response ≥ 80%. Patients who reported usual ultrasound examinations in their rheumatology care and those in which it was their attending rheumatologist who performed the ultrasound assessments responded more favourably. CONCLUSION: Our encouraging patient-centred results may be useful in facilitating the implementation of rheumatological ultrasound in rheumatology care worldwide. Key Points • This is the largest multicentre survey carried out in patients with chronic joint diseases designed to assess their experience and perceived benefits with the use of ultrasonography performed by rheumatologists in daily practice. • Musculoskeletal ultrasound incorporated into rheumatology care was very well accepted and valued by most patients. • The patients perceived that ultrasonography helps not only their rheumatologist but also themselves to better understand their condition. • The patients believed that ultrasonography helps them accept and comply with the proposed treatment.

Discriminant validity study of Achilles enthesis ultrasound. / Estudio sobre la validez discriminante de la ecografía de entesis aquílea.

OBJECTIVE: We want to know if the ultrasound examination of the Achilles tendon in spondyloarthritis is different compared to other rheumatic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 97 patients divided into five groups: rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, gout, chondrocalcinosis and osteoarthritis, exploring six elementary lesions in 194 Achilles entheses examined. RESULTS: In our study the total index ultrasonographic Achilles is higher in spondyloarthritis with significant differences. The worst elementary spondyloarthritis lesions for discriminations against other pathologies were calcification. CONCLUSIONS: This study aims to demonstrate the discriminant validity of Achilles enthesitis observed by ultrasound in spondyloarthritis compared with other rheumatic diseases that may also have ultrasound abnormalities such enthesis level.

Estudio sobre la validez discriminante de la ecografía de entesis aquílea / Discriminant validity study of Achilles enthesis ultrasound

Objetivo. Analizar si la exploración ecográfica del tendón de Aquiles es diferente en las espondiloartritis respecto de otras enfermedades reumáticas. Material y métodos. Se estudia a 97 pacientes divididos en 5 grupos: artritis reumatoide, espondiloartritis, gota, condrocalcinosis y artrosis, explorándose 6 lesiones elementales en las 194 entesis de Aquiles examinadas. Resultados. En nuestro estudio, el índice total ecográfico en tendón de Aquiles es mayor en el grupo de espondiloartritis con diferencias significativas. La lesión elemental que peor discrimina las espondilitis respecto de otras patologías es la presencia de calcificaciones. Conclusiones. Este estudio pretende demostrar la validez discriminante de la entesitis aquílea observada por ecografía en las espondiloartritis en comparación con otras enfermedades reumatológicas que también pueden presentar alteraciones ecográficas a nivel de dicha entesis (AU)

Objective. We want to know if the ultrasound examination of the Achilles tendon in spondyloarthritis is different compared to other rheumatic diseases. Material and methods. We studied 97 patients divided into five groups: rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, gout, chondrocalcinosis and osteoarthritis, exploring six elementary lesions in 194 Achilles entheses examined. Results. In our study the total index ultrasonographic Achilles is higher in spondyloarthritis with significant differences. The worst elementary spondyloarthritis lesions for discriminations against other pathologies were calcification. Conclusions. This study aims to demonstrate the discriminant validity of Achilles enthesitis observed by ultrasound in spondyloarthritis compared with other rheumatic diseases that may also have ultrasound abnormalities such enthesis level (AU)