Sonographic Findings of Hands and Wrists in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients With Jaccoud Arthropathy

• Published in: Journal of clinical rheumatology Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 70 - 74
• Main Authors: Lins, Carolina Freitas, de Sá Ribeiro, Daniel Lima, Santos, Willer Gonçalves Dourado, Rosa, Genevievi, Machicado, Viviane, Pedreira, Ana Luiza, da Fonseca, Emanuela Pimenta, Souza, Anna Paula Mota Duque, Silva, Carla Baleeiro Rodrigues, Ferreira, Luana Grazielle dos Santos, Galvão, Verena, de Oliveira, Isabela Silva, Atta, Ajax Merces, Santiago, Mittermayer Barreto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Copyright Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved 01-03-2018
• Subjects: Adult; Cohort Studies; Female; Hand Joints - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Joint Diseases - complications; Joint Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - complications; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 1076-1608; 1536-7355
• DOI: 10.1097/RHU.0000000000000622

INTRODUCTIONJaccoud arthropathy (JA) is a deforming nonerosive arthropathy, characterized by the presence of “reversible” joint deformity. The study aims at describing the main musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) findings of a series of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with JA.
METHODSConsecutive patients diagnosed as having JA and SLE were included in the study. All patients underwent a whole clinical evaluation and US of the hands and wrists. The US scan evaluated the presence of synovial hypertrophy, tenosynovitis, and bone erosions.
RESULTSThirty-nine of 40 patients were female. The US examination was performed on 560 joints of the hands and wrists. At least 1 change was observed in the US examination of 20 patients (50.0%), but there was not a statistically significant association with disease activity (P = 0.33). Nineteen patients (47.5%) had synovial hypertrophy, 9 (22.5%) had tenosynovitis, and 7 (17.5%) had both. Isolated small bone erosions were identified in 2 patients (5.0%).
CONCLUSIONSUltrasound examination is a reliable and noninvasive imaging method for the evaluation of joint involvement in SLE. Half of the patients with JA have ultrasonographic signs of joint inflammation, and these abnormalities may be found even in the absence of disease activity.