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Objective:To analyze the characteristics of various clinical parameter reflecting the di-sease activity of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore their objectivity and different clinical values.Methods:The clinical data and ultrasonic data of 28 joints of RA patients diagnosed between 2014 and 2018 were collected. The characteristics of clinical indicators were analyzed, and their correlation with total grey scale (GS)/power Doppler (PD) scores of 28 joints was explored. Semi-quantitative score (0-3 points) of GS and PD for synovial hyperplasia was performed on 28 joints of selected patients by ultrasound. Total GS/PD scores include 28 joints. The characteristics of clinical parameters were analyzed, and their correlation with total GS/PD scores of 28 joints was explored. The normal distribution data was represented by mean SD, while the non-normal distribution data was represented by median (interquad interval, IQR). Correlation analysis was performed using 95% Spearman nonparametric correlation coefficient. All statistical tests were bilateral, with a significance of P<0.01. Results:163 RA patients were enrolled. 85% of them were female, with an average age of (52.0±13.0) years and a median course of disease 34(24, 45) months. The disease activity score in 28 joints C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), simplified disease activity index (SDAI) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) were 4.2(2.4, 5.4), 17.9 (5.7, 33.3) and 16.0 (5.0, 28.5), respectively. There was discordance between tender joint count (TJC) and swollen joint count (SJC) in some patients. Eighty-nine (54.6%) patients had higher TJC than SJC, while 19(11.7%) patients had fewer TJC than SJC. The accordance between physician's global assessment (PGA) and evaluator Sglobalassessmentofdiseaseactivity (EGA) was observed in only 61 cases (37.4%). Eighty-nine patients (54.6%) had a higher PGA than EGA. Overall, all the parameters [TJC, SJC, PGA, PGA, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and CRP] were positively correlated with the total GS/PD scores ( r>0.50, P<0.01). Composite disease activity scores, DAS28, SDAI and CDAI, were also significantly correlated with total GS/PD scores ( r>0.59, P<0.01). But compared with TJC, the correlation between SJC and GS/PD was better ( r=0.59/0.60, P<0.01; r=0.50/0.51, P<0.01). Similarly, compared with GPA, the correlation between EGA and GS/PD was better ( r=0.66/0.67, P<0.01; r=0.55/0.58, P<0.01). Conclusion:The composite disease activity scores and all their components are significantly correlated with ultrasonic synovitis. Compared with TJC and PGA, SJC, EGA, CRP and ESR show a higher correlation with joint ultrasonic synovitis, and are more objective and meaningful in the evaluation of RA disease activity.
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Objective:To explore the clinical and serological evolution of patients with positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), and the factors and therapeutic implications associated with aPL negativization.Methods:Patients with a persistent serological positive aPL according to established criteria between 1997 and 2018 were included. The Lupus anticoagulant (LA), anti-cardiolipid antibody (aCL) and anti-β 2 glycoproteinⅠ (anti-β 2GPⅠ) were tested following the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis guidelines. The patients were classified as aPL negativization if the following aPL tests became negative, on two or more occasions at least 12 weeks apart. Titer more than 40 RU/ml was defined as moderate to high titer for anti-aCL and anti-β 2GPⅠ. For patients receiving warfarin, the results of LA were counted only when international normalized ratio (INR)<1.5. Results:There were 93 patients finally involved. 25% of them were primary APS and 63% were conco-mitant with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). After a mean follow-up of 45.0 (45.0) months, the percentage of aPL negativization was 11%(9/83), 26%(18/69), 24%(13/53) for LA, aCL and anti-β 2GP Ⅰ respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed that double positive of dilute russell's viper venom time (dRVVT) and silica clotting time (SCT) was the only independent protective factor for LA negativization [ OR=0.055, 95% CI (0.006, 0.545); P=0.013]. SLE, moderate to high titer of aCL and number of baseline aPL positivity were independently associated with aCL negativization [ OR=18.2; 95% CI (1.45, 228); P=0.025, for SLE; OR=0.217; 95% CI (0.053, 0.888); P=0.034, for moderate to high titer of aCL; OR=0.198; 95% CI(0.057, 0.689); P=0.011, for number of baseline aPL positivity]. Moderate to high titer of anti-β 2GPⅠ and number of baseline aPL positivity were independent protective factors for anti-β 2GPⅠnegativization [ OR=0.168; 95% CI (0.032, 0.872); P=0.034, for moderate to high titer of anti-β 2GPⅠ; OR=0.243; 95% CI (0.073, 0.813); P=0.022, for number of baseline aPL positivity]. There were no factors related with aPL negativization among 40 triple aPL positive patients. We didn't find any relationship between aPL persistent positivity and further thrombosis/pregnancy morbidity due to limited events. Conclusion:aPLs negativization is common and frequent for aCL. The number of positive antibodies and higher antibody load are associated with persistently positive serology. Patients with SLE are easier to get aCL negativization. Double positive of dRVVT and SCT was a protective factor for LA negativization.
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Objective To evaluate the validity of assessing synovitis and tenosynovitis by using musculoskeletal ultrasound scoring systems after standardized training in Chinese doctors.Methods All participants received a 30 minutes' training for the ultrasound scoring systems of synovitis and tenosynovitis.Ten static images were applied to evaluate the changes before and after training,respectively.Each parameter was assessed by a four scale semi-quantitative system recommended by outcomes measures in rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials (OMERACT).Paired t-test was used to assess the differences before and after training.Results Thirteen rheumatologists and two ultrasonographers completed the entire procedure.Significant differences were found before and after training when assessing the severity of gray-scale of synovitis (0.61± 0.30 vs 0.45±0.23;t=2.230,P＜0.05) and power Doppler of synovitis (0.57±0.26 vs 0.31±0.18;t=2.928,P＜0.05) and tenosynotis (0.56±0.15 vs 0.31±0.16;t=5.286,P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found when assessing the gray scale of tenosynovitis (t=-1.679,P＞0.05).Conclusion Standardized training is helpful to improve the validity of ultrasound scoring systems of synovitis and tenosynovitis in Chinese rheumatologists and ultrasonographers.The validity of assessing gray-scale of tenosynovits needs improvement.
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Objective To develop the optimal simplified combination of joints for ultrasonographic assessment of joint inflammation of wrists and hands in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods US examination was performed using grey-scale (GSUS) and power Dop.pler (PDUS) semi-quantitative scoring systems with scores 0-3 in 22 joints of 705 RA patients,including all proximal interphalangeal (PIP),metacarpophalangeal (MCP),and bilateral wrist joints.Continuous variables were presented as mean and standard deviation if normally distributed,and dichotomous variables were presented as frequencies.T test and Wilcoxon signed test were applied for statistical analysis.All correlations among US variables were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation test.Candidate joint set was selected by multiple stepwise linear regression analysis.Results Through multiple linear stepwise regression analysis,the standard coefficient of wrist,MCP5,MCP2 and MCP3 joints under GSUS was higher than other joints.And the adjusted R2 of the model composed of wrist,MCP5,MCP2 and MCP3 joints was greater than 0.9.Among the sum GS and PD scores of various selected joint combinations,total score-8 (GS vs PD),including bilateral wrist,MCP2,MCP3,MCP5 joints,not only showed highest sensitivity and negative predictive value (97.3 5％ vs 97.20％;92.67％ vs 97.21％,respectively),but also had the highest correlation with the total score-22 (GS,PD) (r=0.989,0.972,P＜0.01).Conclusion Total score-8,including bilateral wrist,MCP2,MCP3,MCP5 joints,is simple and efficient enough for monitoring active synovitis of wrists and hands in patients with RA in daily practice.
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Objective To investigate the musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) findings in Chinese knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients.Methods All the MSUS data were from the outpatients with knee OA who visited Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology,Peking University First Hospital from February 2013 to August 2014.MSUS findings included number and position of osteophyte,synovitis,thickness of cartilage,and so on.Comparisons between groups were made using t test,Chi-square tests.Results Six hundreds and seventy-four patients were included.Almost all the patients (96.1％) had osteophytes,most patients had both knees osteophytes.The most common osteophyte location was femoral (85.2％),followed by tibia and the upper edge of patella.The number of osteophytes differed from none to ten,and the distribution of bilateral knee osteophytes was symmetrical in most patients.There was no significant difference in the number of osteophytes between male and female,and patients over 60 years old had more osteophytes than the patients aged 60 or below.In all bursae lesions,the suprapatellar bursa were the most commonly affected [effusion,279 (41.4％),synovial hyperplasia,189(28.0％),synovitis 24 (3.6％)].There was no significant difference in the cartilage thickness between bilateral knees.But the cartilage thickness of female patients was significantly thinner than that of men [left:(2.0±0.5) mm vs (2.5:1:0.8) mm,t=3.859,P＜0.05;right:(2.0:1:0.5) mm vs (2.5±0.8) mam,t=4.109,P＜0.05],and the patients over 60 years old had thinner cartilage than patients younger than 60 years old [left:(2.0±0.6) mm vs (2.2±0.6) mm,t=2.108,P＜0.05;right:(2.0±0.6) mm vs (2.2±0.6) mm,t=2.507,P＜ 0.05].None patient had Calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate (CPPD) deposition in the cartilage.Conclusion In the ultrasonographic findings of knee OA in China,osteophyte could be found in 96％ patients,the most common location of osteophyte is the femur area.The distribution of bilateral knee osteophytes is symmetrical in most patients.Patients over 60 years old have more osteophytes.Nearly haff patients have joint effusion,one third patients have synovial hyperplasia or synovitis.Bilateral knee cartilage degeneration is symmetrical.Women and patients over 60 years old have thinner cartilage.