Value of 7-joint ultrasound semi-quantitative score in the evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of ultrasonic semi-quantitative scoring of 7 joints(US7) in the evaluation of the rheumatoid arthritis(RA) disease activity.

MethodsThirty-seven patients with RA were divided into the hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) normal group(14 cases) and hs-CRP increasing group(23 cases) according to the level of hs-CRP.The severe side wrist joint, second and third metacarpophalangeal joints and proximal interphalangeal joints, and second and fifth metatarsophalangeal joints in two groups were examined by gray-scale ultrasound and energy Doppler ultrasound.The scores were compared between two groups, and the correlation between US7 score and hs-CRP was analyzed.

ResultsThe synovial hyperplasia, synovial blood flow scoring and total US7 score in hs-CRP increasing group were higher than those in hs-CRP normal group(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The differences of the scores of joint effusion and bone erosion between two groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Among the 37 RA patients, the synovium blood flow, bone erosion and US7 total score were positively correlated with the level of hs-CRP.The synovial hyperplasia and joint effusion were not correlated to the level of hs-CRP(P>0.05).

ConclusionsThe US7 score can be used to evaluate the disease activity of RA, and it is a simple and effective imaging method to monitor the disease activity of RA.