Comparison in values of color flow signals and vascular resistance of synovial vascularity demonstrated by Doppler sonography between knee and metacarpophalangeal joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Synovial vascularity of 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was examined by Doppler sonography for color flow signals and vascular resistance on knee joints and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, and the results were compared with each other and with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of the patients. A significant correlation was observed between knee resistance index (RI) and MCP-RI (P = 0.0140), but not between knee color flow signals and MCP color flow signals (P = 0.1029). A significant correlation was also observed between knee color flow signals and knee RI (P = 0.0107), and knee pulsatility index (PI) (P = 0.0146). On the other hand, no correlation was observed between MCP color flow signals and MCP-RI (P = 0.828), and MCP-PI (P = 0.434). There was no significant correlation between CRP levels and grades of color flow signals, RI, and PI for both knee and MCP joints. Doppler sonographic evaluation of RI, especially knee RI, could be a useful marker for estimating synovial inflammation in RA patients.

Doppler sonographic comparative study on usefulness of synovial vascularity between knee and metacarpophalangeal joints for evaluation of articular inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated by infliximab

“…The results that the difference (beforeafter) values did not correlate between CFS and values of CRP, ESR, and DAS28-E3 could indicate a lower association of CFS with these clinical factors. The present lower frequency of positive CFS in MCP joints (39%) may also be responsible for the lack of significant correlation between RI values of knee and MCP joints, in contrast to the significant correlation (P < 0.01) between knee-RI and MCP-RI observed in the previous study, 8 because a higher frequency of positive CFS in MCP joints (54%) was observed in the previous study. The present significant correlation between CFS and RI values in both knee and MCP joints is consistent with results of previous studies scanned on knee joints.…”

“…Doppler sonographic scanning of MCP and knee joints has been performed to examine correlation between color flow signals (CFS) and resistance index (RI) of synovial vascularity in MCP and knee joints. 8 However, there have been no reports of scanning of MCP and knee joints simultaneously for evaluation of TNF-α blockades.…”

Power Doppler and spectral Doppler measurements of knee-joint synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients with superficial pattern signals and in those with deep pattern signals

“…This study also found a significant inverse correlation between RI and fl ow signal intensity, which others and we have previously reported. [16][17][18][19][20] Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that the degree of synovial effusion had a stronger association with the increased grades of fl ow signals which have higher perfusion (lower RI values) and are located in the superfi cial layer of the pannus, whereas pannus thickness had a stronger association with the larger vessels which have lower perfusion (higher RI values) and are located in the deep layer of the pannus.…”