ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of ultrasound-detected tendon abnormalities in healthy subjects (HS) across the age range.MethodsAdult HS (age 18–80 years) were recruited in 23 international Outcome Measures in Rheumatology ultrasound centres and were clinically assessed to exclude inflammatory diseases or overt osteoarthritis before undergoing a bilateral ultrasound examination of digit flexors (DFs) 1–5 and extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendons to detect the presence of tenosynovial hypertrophy (TSH), tenosynovial power Doppler (TPD) and tenosynovial effusion (TEF), usually considered ultrasound signs of inflammatory diseases. A comparison cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was taken from the Birmingham Early Arthritis early arthritis inception cohort.Results939 HS and 144 patients with RA were included. The majority of HS (85%) had grade 0 for TSH, TPD and TEF in all DF and ECU tendons examined. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of TSH and TPD involvement between HS and subjects with RA (HS vs RA p<0.001). In HS, there was no difference in the presence of ultrasound abnormalities between age groups.ConclusionsUltrasound-detected TSH and TPD abnormalities are rare in HS and can be regarded as markers of active inflammatory disease, especially in newly presenting RA.

Abbreviations: RA, rheumatoid arthritis; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; CT, computerised tomography; XR, X-ray; PTH, parathyroid hormone; DEXA, dual energy X-Ray absorptiometry; NOF, neck of femur; L2-L4, second to fourth lumbar vertebrae; A&E, accident and emergency department; MTP, meta tarso phalangeal Abstract Objectives: To evaluate causes of foot and ankle insufficiency fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. To conduct a literature review of low dose methotrexate induced osteopathy.Case series: Three patients with rheumatoid arthritis who sustained foot and ankle insufficiency fractures which were only detected on MRI. All three patients were on biologic treatment and methotrexate for RA, and two had evidence of hind-foot deformity. All had evidence of osteoporosis on bone density scan, and two were already on intravenous zolendronic acid. Conclusion:Insufficiency fractures occur in approximately 1% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 1 Contributing factors include chronic inflammation; skeletal deformities; biomechanical stresses; use of glucocorticoids; and osteoporosis. An additional pathophysiological mechanism may be low-dose methotrexate induced osteopathy. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude this.

Background:Tenosynovitis (TS) is a common, often clinically undetectable finding in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Recent data showed TS on ultrasound (US) has a role in predicting outcome in early disease and flare in clinical remission. However data is limited on US measured TS in healthy subjects (HS), none specifically encompassing the older age range when RA commonly presents.Objectives:This OMERACT study aimed to determine prevalence of US measured tendon abnormalities in HS throughout the age range.Methods:Adult HS without: joint pain (VAS <10/100), hand osteoarthritis (ACR criteria), or inflammatory arthritis were recruited in 23 international centres from Aug 2017-Dec 2018. MCP, PIP and wrist joints were clinically examined. Bilateral digit flexor (DF) 1-5 and extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendons were scanned for tenosynovial hypertrophy (TSH) and power Doppler (PD) signal and graded (OMERACT US scoring system1).A comparison cohort of DMARD-naive patients with RA (ACR-EULAR 2010 and/or 1987 criteria) at presentation was taken from the Birmingham Early Arthritis (BEACON) inception cohort, who underwent identical tendon US assessment. They were grouped into ≤12 and > 12 weeks from symptom onset.Results:Data from 899 HS and 144 RA patients were included. HS 18-39 y HS 40-59 y HS ≥60 y RA ≤12 RA > 12 5 groups p value RA ≤12 vs >12 p value n 40831118030114 Age, y (IQR) 29 (25-33)49 (44-55)68 (62-72)58 (52-69)53 (42-65)<0.0010.03 Female (%) 270 (66)270 (83)114 (62)20 (67)86 (75)<0.0010.2 DAS 28 CRP (IQR) ---5.4 (4.2-6.1)4.8 (4.1-5.7)-0.1 Tender joint* (IQR) 0 0 0 18 (10-23)17 (11-29)<0.0010.9 Swollen joint* (IQR) 0 0 0 8 (3-18)6 (3-9)<0.0010.1 DF 1-5 TSH gd ≥1 (%) 8 (0.2)9 (0.3)2 (0.1)54 (18)125 (11)<0.0010.06 DF 1-5 PD gd ≥1 (%) 3 (0.05)2 (0.06)0 49 (16)85 (8)<0.0010.02 ECU TSH gd ≥1 (%) 1 (0.1)11 (1.8)5 (1.4)13 (22)52 (23)<0.0010.8 ECU PD gd ≥1 (%) 0 0 0 12 (20)50 (22)<0.0010.7*RA had 66/68 joint countPrevalence of TSH and particularly PD abnormalities in HS was very low at all ages, and was all grade 1 except in one individual ECU tendon. ECU TSH grade≥1 was more common than DF grade≥1 in the older HS groups, and less common in the 18-39 age group (p=0.011). TSH and PD of grade ≥1 were common in RA patients, with DF PD abnormalities more common in early disease (p=0.02).Conclusion:Low prevalence of TSH or PD abnormalities in tendons of HS even in old age suggests US determined TS will be a robust tool in clinically managing RA.References:[1] Naredo E, D’Agostino MA, et al. Reliability consensus-based US score TS RA. ARD.2013;72(8):1328-34Disclosure of Interests:Jeanette Trickey: None declared, Ilfita Sahbudin: None declared, Alessandra Bortoluzzi: None declared, Annamaria Iagnocco: None declared, Carlos Pineda: None declared, Cesar Sifuentes-Cantú: None declared, Coziana Ciurtin: None declared, Cristina Reategui Sokolova: None declared, Daniela Fodor: None declared, Ellen-Margrethe Hauge: None declared, Esperanza Naredo Consultant for: Abbvie, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Roche, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer...