Synovial membrane thickness and arterial resistance index of wrist in assessing the activity of rheumatoid arthritis / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the value of thickness and arterial resistive index (RI) of wrist synovium in differentiation from activity to non-activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Ninety-two clinically confirmed RA patients underwent high frequency ultrasonography. Maximum thickness and arterial RI of the wrist synovium were measured in active and nonactive stage. Results Thickened synovium was found in 75 of 92 patients. Color signal in the synovium was detected and then RI was measured in 67 patients, including 31 in active stage and 36 in nonactive stage. The wrist synovium thickness of 67 patients was (2.97±1.49) mm and arterial RI was 0.74±0.17. RI decreased significantly in patients in active stage compared with that in nonactive stage (P<0.001). Conclusion Arterial RI measurement with high frequency ultrasonography may be served as an objective marker of synovial membrane disease in RA. The thickness of synovium cannot predict the activity of RA.