AB1365 PROPOSAL FOR A STANDARDIZED ULTRASOUND SCANNING PROTOCOL OF THE NAIL PLATE

Background

Ultrasonography of the nails with high frequency linear transducers can properly perform morphological images, achieving highly descriptive power but the lack of standardization may hesitate in lack of reproducibility and scarce usefulness.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to provide a detailed scan protocol of nail plate, including comparison of scan planes and probe positioning.

Methods

Transversal and longitudinal ultrasound scans were performed on each fingernail of both hands in healthy subjects. Nail plate thickness and Power Doppler of the nail bed were recorded. All the images were acquired using Canon Aplio i800 with a linear transducer of 22 MHz (i22LHB). Two different operators performed evaluation of thickness at distal, middle and proximal portion of nail in longitudinal view and at 0°, -45° and +45° for transverse view (Figure 1). ANOVA for repeated measures was used to determine differences between nail of the different digits.

Figure 1.

Longitudinal and transverse view of the nail. In yellow the position and angles of the caliper used for acquiring the measures

Results

The study sample was composed of 27 healthy subjects between 25- and 40- year old with no rheumatological or dermatological nail issues. A total of 270 nails were scanned; none of them was excluded due to comorbidity, trauma or other conditions which can interfere in the evaluation. A decrease in nail thickness was observed from first to fifth digit, regardless the hand (dominant or not), that resulted significant for the ANOVA. No differences were found regarding the thickness in the different segments of nail plate and this occurred both for longitudinal and transverse scans.

Conclusion

We demonstrated the absence of a statistically significant difference between thickness at proximal, middle and distal portion of the nail in longitudinal view or at any different angle in transverse view, concluding the fastest and easiest way to measure the nail plate thickness is in the longitudinal view at the middle segment, avoiding potential issues in positioning the probe in the transverse view or in positioning the caliper at proximal or distal segment in longitudinal view. All the nails should be scanned per protocol, since the thickness is variable and the fifth may be the most interesting in order to consider its highest variance.

References

[1]Fassio A. et al.; Clin Rheumatol. 2020 May;39(5):1391-1404. doi: 10.1007/s10067-019-04748-2. Epub 2019 Aug 22.

Table 1.

ANOVA for repeated measures of the nail plate thickness. A trend in decreasing P value is clearly visible from first to fifth. P considered statistically significant when ≤ 0.05

LONGITUDINALTRANSVERSEPROXIMAL-45°Row-mean1234Row-mean123421.00020.73130.7651.00030.2641.00040.0280.8881.00040.0000.0560.18750.0000.0010.0030.15850.0000.0050.0231.000MIDDLE0°Row-mean1234Row-mean123421.00020.71931.0001.00030.0561.00040.0701.0001.00040.0000.1581.00050.0000.0010.0020.09550.0000.0250.3891.000DISTAL+45°Row-mean1234Row-mean123421.00021.00030.8541.00030.7651.00040.0060.0930.75440.0500.5831.00050.0000.0000.0000.11450.0000.0010.0160.323

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0278 COMPARISON OF ULTRASOUND BEAM ATTENUATION BY CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, HYDROXYAPATITE AND MONOSODIUM URATE CRYSTALS: A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT STUDY

Background

Ultrasound (US) demonstrated to be reliable and accurate for the diagnosis of crystal induced arthropathies, especially gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) and validated definitions for uric acid and calcium pyrophosphate deposition in joints were released by the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) US group. Less is known regarding hydroxyapatite (HA) deposition disease (HAAD) and the role of US in the assessment of HA crystal deposition.

It is general belief that HA crystals create posterior acoustic shadowing, monosodium urate could create or not US beam attenuation while CPP crystals generally do not attenuate the US beam.

Objectives

Aim of this proof-of-concept study was to investigate the US appearance in terms of beam attenuation due to increasing concentrations of MSU, CPP and HA crystals.

Methods

Sixteen synthetic crystal suspensions with known concentrations of CPP (26-109 mg/mL), HA (31-153 mg/mL) and MSU (90-500 mg/mL) were prepared. These specific concentrations were selected to replicate the X-ray attenuation characteristics of those crystals when imaged by conventional radiography, computed tomography (CT) and dual-energy CT (DECT) in vivo[1]. The density of the agar-based lipogel background was intentionally increased to mimic the X-ray attenuation of hyaline cartilage (i.e., 100-120 HU at 120 kVp). Each crystal suspension was placed in a plastic container filled with US gel, next to the control (i.e., crystal-free background) calibration phantom. We acquired all US images using a Samsung RS80A system equipped with a high-frequency linear array transducer (4-18 MHz) set at the maximum frequency, by applying the same settings. US scans were performed by a single experienced sonographer, blinded to the crystal type and concentration. For each of the 16 crystal suspensions, at least two images were recorded both in the long- and short-axis views, the latter including the control phantom in the field of view. Interpretation of US images for the extent of US beam attenuation and the presence of acoustic shadowing was performed in consensus with a second experienced sonographer.

Results

None of the five CPP phantoms generated posterior acoustic shadowing or US beam attenuation regardless of CPP concentration. HA 31mg/mL did not generate US beam attenuation, while HA 62, 92 and 123 mg/mL generated a progressively increasing US beam attenuation with posterior acoustic shadow clearly generated by HA 153 mg/mL. Similarly, MSU 90 mg/mL did not generate US beam attenuation. MSU 195 mg/mL generated only a very faint US beam attenuation that became progressively more visible at 270 and 345 mg/mL even if a clear posterior acoustic shadow was detectable only with MSU 420 and 500 mg/mL (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Short-axis views comparing the US attenuation characteristics, including acoustic shadowing, of increasing concentrations (in mg/mL) of CPP, HA and MSU crystals. The left column shows the US attenuation of the crystal-free (0 mg/mL) agar-based lipogel background for reference

Conclusion

This proof-of-concept study confirmed that in the concentrations of crystals encountered in vivo, CPP do not generate posterior shadowing, while MSU and HA determine US beam attenuation proportionally to the concentration of the crystals. Being this a proof-of-concept study, attenuation of the US beam was assessed empirically and not in a quantitative or semi-quantitative way. However, this study highlights the potential of US to differentiate between CPP, MSU and HA crystals based on their appearance on gray scale imaging. Future studies should be carried out with different crystal concentrations, different US equipment and settings, in order to create a scoring system for US beam attenuation that is actually lacking.

References

[1]Pascart T et al. Dual-energy computed tomography in calcium pyrophosphate deposition: initial clinical experience. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2019;27:1309–14. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2019.05.007

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

OP0167 ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE PREDICTION OF GOUT FLARES: A 12-MONTH PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background

Gout flares are a distinctive feature of gout. Although imaging techniques, such as ultrasonography (US), can visualise monosodium urate (MSU) crystals and synovial inflammation and estimate their burden, the role of imaging in predicting gout flares has not been fully investigated.

Objectives

To evaluate whether US findings indicative of MSU deposits and subclinical inflammation predict gout flares over 12 months.

Methods

Participants with gout on urate-lowering therapy (ULT) for at least the preceding six months were enrolled consecutively in this 12-month prospective, observational, single-centre study.

A nested case-control analysis was performed. Cases were participants with at least one gout flare in the follow-up period while controls did not self-report any gout flares.

Clinical assessment was scheduled at 6-month intervals. In addition, at baseline, each patient underwent an US examination using a standardised scanning protocol including the following sites: knees, ankles, 1st metatarsophalangeal joints, elbows, wrists and 2nd metacarpophalangeal joints. The US findings indicating MSU deposits [i.e., aggregates, double contour (DC) sign and tophi] and inflammation [i.e., Power Doppler (PD) signal] were identified according to the 2015 Outcome Measure in Rheumatology definitions (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Summated scores were calculated for each US finding.

During follow-up visits, patients were asked to report any gout flares using an internationally-validated definition [1].

Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to measure the association between baseline US findings and the occurrence of gout flares over 12 months. US scores were tested separately, including the following covariates: age, gender, disease duration, presence of subcutaneous tophi, current serum urate>360 μmol/l, increasing dose of ULT during the study period and ongoing flare prophylaxis. In addition, multivariate zero-inflated Poisson regression analysis was used to investigate the association between US findings and the number of flares over 12 months.

Results

Eighty-one gout participants were enrolled, and 71 completed the study. Thirty (42.3%) of 71 participants experienced at least one flare over 12 months, with a median of 2.0 flares. There was no difference among baseline clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with and without flares except for the presence of subcutaneous tophi (23.3% vs 4.9%; p=0.02) and higher current SU levels (360.8 vs 301.4 μmol/l mol/L, p=0.01).

Participants with flares had a greater baseline US burden of MSU deposits (2.0±1.8 vs 0.5±0.9, p=0.01 for DC sign; 2.1±2.3 vs 0.8±1.0, p=0.01 for tophi; 2.6±2.0 vs 1.6±1.6, p=0.03 for aggregates) and of subclinical inflammation (3.73±3.53 vs 0.82±1.44, p<0.01).

The baseline extent of MSU deposits and subclinical inflammation estimated by US was significantly associated with gout flares over 12 months in multivariate logistic regression analyses. DC sign score (aOR: 2.20, 95%CI: 1.22-4.34; p=0.01), tophi score (aOR: 2.16, 95%CI: 1.12-4.18; p=0.02) and PD score (aOR: 1.63, 95%CI: 1.12-2.40; p=0.01) predicted gout flares, whereas aggregates score (aOR: 1.40, 95%CI: 0.94-2.10; p=0.10) did not reach the statistical significance. Similar results were obtained in multivariate Poisson regression models (aIRR for DC score: 1.39, 95%CI: 1.18-1.64, p<0.01, aIRR for tophi score: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.17-1.45, p<0.01, aIRR for PD score: 1.29, 95%CI: 1.19-1.40, p<0.01, aIRR for aggregates score: 1.13, 95%CI: 1.00-1.29, p=0.05).

Conclusion

Baseline US findings indicating MSU deposits and subclinical inflammation are independent predictors of gout flares over 12 months.

References

[1]Gaffo AL, et al. Brief Report: Validation of a Definition of Flare in Patients With Established Gout. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2018;70:462-7.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

OP0168 DEVELOPMENT OF AN ULTRASOUND SCORING SYSTEM FOR CPPD EXTENT: RESULTS FROM A DELPHI PROCESS AND WEB-RELIABILITY EXERCISE BY THE OMERACT US WORKING GROUP

Background

Ultrasound (US) has proven to be an excellent imaging technique for detecting calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) deposition disease (CPPD); it is also widely available and inexpensive and can be performed during the clinic visit making it the preferred imaging modality for many rheumatologists. However, no validated grading systems have yet been developed allowing for a quantification of the extent of crystal deposition in CPPD.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to develop a scoring system for the quantification of CPP deposition at a patient level according to the OMERACT framework.

Methods

As part of the OMERACT methodology, we performed a systematic literature review (SLR) and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of CPP deposition in peripheral joints by imaging, in order to identify relevant joints for CPPD monitoring. A preliminary survey was also circulated among the members of the OMERACT US – CPPD working group to collect their own suggestions according to their personal experience. Subsequently, a Delphi survey was prepared and circulated between members of the group, including statements that reflected both the results of the SLR and of the preliminary survey. In total, 32 statements were generated regarding the type of scoring for single structures, the sites to be included, the final scoring at patient level, and the scanning technique. Participants were asked to reply on a 5-point Likert scale (1, strongly disagree to 5, strongly agree) and agreement was achieved when 4 and 5 grades reached 75% or more of concordance. In case of disagreement, new statements were proposed according to the members’ suggestions and circulated for voting in a subsequent round. After agreement of a scoring system, the validation process began. Two rounds of a web-based exercise on static images were conducted on 120 images representing equally all sites under investigation and all degrees of crystal deposition, to assess the intra- and inter-reader reliability of the new scoring system. Representative images of the scoring system were visible throughout the entire exercise in order to facilitate the scoring of the lesions.

Results

Three Delphi rounds were needed to reach agreement on all items. 32/41 members of the OMERACT US-CPPD working group replied in the first round, 26/32 in the second, and 25/26 in the third round. Twenty statements were approved in the first round, 3 in the second, and 3 in the third round. Only the knees (menisci and hyaline cartilage) and the triangular fibrocartilage of the wrist were included in the final score, using a four-grade system (0-3). It was decided that each anatomical structure should be scored separately and then also summed in order to define the joint score. The sum of the assessed joints was the total score at patient level. The final scoring system with the definitions and the relative technical notes is represented in Figure 1. 33/41 members participated to the reliability exercise. The inter-reader reliability of the scoring was substantial (kappa of 0.72), and the intra-reader reliability was almost perfect (kappa of 0.82).

Conclusion

This is the first study for developing a scoring system for the extent of CPP crystal deposition in patients with CPPD. The scoring system demonstrated to be reliable in static images. The next step of the validation process is to assess the reliability of the scoring system in a patient-based exercise. This study represents a fundamental step in the OMERACT process of validating US as an outcome measure instrument, and above proposed scoring system will hopefully provide a useful tool for clinical practice and research.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

OP0291 SCORING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS BY ULTRASOUND: RESULTS FROM A DELPHI PROCESS AND WEB-RELIABILITY EXERCISE BY THE OMERACT US WORKING GROUP

Background

Structural damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes bone erosion, cartilage change, and joint malalignment; historically evaluated with conventional radiography. Ultrasound (US) has been shown to be a valid tool for evaluating both cartilage change and bone erosion.

Objectives

To obtain agreement on definitions and develop semiquantitative scoring systems for assessing structural damage by US and to validate these in a web-based reliability exercise.

Methods

A Delphi survey of statements was prepared by an OMERACT US Working Group task force (USWG) based on a previously published systematic literature review (1) and circulated between group members, including definitions on normal US appearance of joint components, definitions of elementary lesions and scoring systems for bone erosions and joint malalignment. Definitions and a US scoring system for scoring cartilage change were recently developed and validated by the USWG (2) After agreement was achieved (≥75% of grades 4-5 on 1-5 Likert scale) on the statements, still images of metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints 2-5 in healthy controls and in RA patients with varying degrees of pathology were acquired by the USWG members. A dataset of 100 anonymized images, representing various grades of the 3 components of structural damage was created and utilized in 2 rounds of a web-based exercise. Intra- and inter-reader reliability of the scoring systems was assessed by kappa statistics.

Results

19 USWG members needed 4 Delphi rounds to reach agreement on a total of 9 statements. 4/12 statements were approved in the first, 2/6 in the second, 1/5 in the third and 2/2 in the fourth round. Final scoring systems and representative images are shown in Table 1 & Figure 1. 22 members participated in the web-based reliability exercise. The intra-reader reliability was almost perfect for bone erosion (kappa: 0.87) and cartilage change (kappa: 0.83) and substantial for malalignment (kappa of 0.72). The inter-reader reliability was almost perfect for bone erosion (kappa: 0.85), and substantial for cartilage change (kappa: 0.79) and malalignment (0.62).

Table 1.

Final definitions of scoring systems of elementary lesions of structural damage in rheumatoid arthritis

AgreementBone erosionA 4-grade semiquantitative scoring system can be used to score erosions as follows: grade 0. intact cortical bone; grade 1. single small erosion (diameter: ≤2mm); grade 2. single large erosion (diameter: >2mm) or 2 small erosions; grade 3. 2 large erosions or ≥3 erosions, regardless of size. Both longitudinal and transverse scans should be considered, and the largest measure chosen for each erosion.100%Cartilage changeA 3-grade semiquantitative scoring system can be used to grade hyaline cartilage change as follows: grade 0. normal cartilage; grade 1. minimal change: focal thinning or incomplete loss of cartilage; grade 2. severe change: diffuse thinning or complete loss of cartilage.80% (2)MalalignmentA 3-grade semiquantitative scoring system can be used to grade malalignment as follows: 0. normal alignment; 1. subluxation or partial dislocation, where the two bone endings are malaligned so that one bone ending is dislocated from its normal position, but still within the articulation; 2. luxation or total dislocation, where the luxated bone ending moves beyond the articulation and the opposing bone ending. Bone position may be compared with a contralateral or similar intact joint if available.94%Figure 1.

Representative images of the scoring systems for bone erosion (A), cartilage change (B) and malalignment (C)

Conclusion

This first attempt to create a composite US instrument based on scoring systems encompassing all aspects of structural damage, demonstrates that US is a reliable tool for evaluating and scoring bone erosion, cartilage change and malalignment in the finger joints of RA patients.

References

[1]Gessl I, et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2021 Jun;51(3):627-39.

[2]Mandl P, et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2019 Oct 1;58(10):1802-11.

Disclosure of Interests

Peter Mandl Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Consultant of: AbbVie, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, BMS, Novartis, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, UCB, Irina Gessl: None declared, Georgios Filippou: None declared, Silvia Sirotti: None declared, Lene Terslev Speakers bureau: Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Janssen, GE, Carlos Pineda: None declared, Helen Keen Speakers bureau: Roche, AbbVie, Janssen, Consultant of: Sanofi, Marina Backhaus: None declared, David Andrew Bong: None declared, Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, PAZ COLLADO: None declared, Christian Dejaco Speakers bureau: Roche, AbbVie, Sanofi, Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Janssen, Galapagos, Consultant of: Roche, AbbVie, Sanofi, Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Janssen, Galapagos, Andrea Delle Sedie Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, UCB, Paid instructor for: Abbvie, Amgen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, UCB, Christina Duftner: None declared, Hilde Berner Hammer: None declared, Annamaria Iagnocco: None declared, Zunaid Karim: None declared, Ingrid Möller Speakers bureau: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ibsa, Pfizer, Galapagos, Esperanza Naredo Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Lilly, Novartis, Janssen, Celgene GmbH, Paid instructor for: Novartis, Consultant of: Novartis, Lilly, Grant/research support from: Lilly, Pfizer, Wolfgang A. Schmidt: None declared, Marcin Szkudlarek: None declared, Giorgio Tamborrini: None declared, Priscilla C Wong: None declared, Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol -Myers Squibb, Janssen-Cilag, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Union Chimique Belge Pharma, Peter Balint Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Maria-Antonietta D’Agostino: None declared

OP0209 SONOGRAPHIC ESTIMATION OF MONOSODIUM URATE BURDEN PREDICTS THE FULFILMENT OF THE 2016 REMISSION CRITERIA FOR GOUT: A 12-MONTH STUDY

Background:

Preliminary remission criteria for gout include the following five domains: serum uric acid (SUA) levels <360 µmol/l, absence of subcutaneous tophi, absence of gouty flares, pain (due to gout) <2/10 and patient global assessment of disease activity <2/10 [1]. To achieve remission, all criteria must be fulfilled at least twice in a 12-month period [1]. Although imaging techniques allow to visualise monosodium urate (MSU) deposits and to estimate their burden, an imaging domain was not included.

Objectives:

To investigate whether baseline MSU burden estimated by ultrasonography (US) predicts the achievement of remission according to these criteria [1] over 12 months.

Methods:

In this 12-month prospective, observational and monocentric study, patients with gout according to the 2015 ACR/EULAR criteria and on urate-lowering therapy for at least the preceding 6 months were consecutively recruited. After the baseline clinical assessment, only patients fulfilling all domains of the remission criteria [1] (and therefore amenable to achieve the remission at 12 months) were followed up at 6-month intervals for one year.

The US findings indicative of MSU deposits were identified according to the OMERACT definitions. The following joints were included in the US scanning protocol: elbows, wrists, 2nd metacarpophalangeal joints, knees, ankles and 1st metatarsophalangeal joints. Sum scores of aggregates, double contour (DC) signs, and tophi were calculated separately, and a total score resulting from the sum of all elementary US findings was recorded.

Results:

Seventy patients with gout were recruited; of these, 20 (28.6%) were excluded at baseline because 13 (18.6%) did not satisfy the SUA domain, 11 (15.7%) tophus domain, 7 (10.0%) pain domain and 5 (7.1%) disease activity domain.

In the enrolled patients (Age: 59.9±14.8 years, female/male ratio: 1/49, disease duration: 6.5±6.6 years), remission criteria were fulfilled in 21 (42.0%) of 50 patients over 12 months.

No significant difference was found between patients fulfilling and not fulfilling the remission criteria at 12 months in all clinical and laboratory data except for the gout flare prophylaxis (7, 33.3% vs 20, 69.0%; p=0.02).

The baseline US MSU burden was significantly lower (total score 1.9±1.8) in patients in remission than in those not in remission at 12 months (total score 5.1±3.1) (p<0.01). The fulfilment of the remission criteria at 12 months was recorded in 87.5% of the patients without baseline US evidence of MSU deposits and in only 33.0% of those with at least one US finding indicating MSU deposits (p<0.01).

US scores and gout flare prophylaxis were the only significant predictors of remission in the univariate analyses (Table 1).

Table 1.

Predictive values of baseline data for the remission at 12 months.

OR (95%CI)P valueOngoing flare prophylaxis0.23 (0.07-0.75)0.02Total score=010.83 (1.14-102.59)0.04Aggregate score=05.53 (1.34-22.76)<0.01DC sign score=07.33 (1.71-31.44)<0.01Tophus score=03.88 (1.08-13.92)0.02

95%CI: 95% confidence interval; OR: odds ratio.

The risk of not fulfilling the remission criteria increased with the US burden of MSU deposits. For each 1-point increase in total score, aggregate score, DC sign score and tophus score, the risk increased by 1.81- (95%CI: 1.27-2.60), 1.73- (95%CI: 1.14-2.64), 4.16- (95%CI: 1.55-11.3) and 1.95-fold (95%CI: 1.07-3.56), respectively (Figure 1).

Conclusion:

Baseline US estimation of MSU burden is an independent predictor of gout clinical remission at 12 months. The absence of US MSU deposits was the most significant predictor of remission, whereas the US detection of DC sign in at least one joint of not achieving remission. Thus, performing an US examination in patients amenable to fulfil the remission criteria after 12 months may improve risk-stratification and inform management of these patients.

References:

[1]de Lautour H, et al. Development of Preliminary Remission Criteria for Gout Using Delphi and 1000Minds Consensus Excersices. Arthritis Care Res 2016;68:667–72

Disclosure of Interests:

Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Andrea Di Matteo: None declared, Walter Grassi Speakers bureau: Walter Grassi has received speaking fees from AbbVie, Celgene, Grünenthal, Pfizer and Union Chimique Belge Pharma., Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Emilio Filippucci. has received speaking fees from AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Union Chimique Belge Pharma

OP0205 ULTRASOUND-DETECTED CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE CRYSTAL DEPOSITION: WHICH SITES SHOULD BE SCANNED?

Background:

In recent years, ultrasonography (US) has emerged as an accurate and reliable tool for the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) deposition disease (CPPD) in daily practice. Previous studies analyzed the diagnostic value of US findings in different tissues and joints. However, no studies have investigated the optimal US scanning protocol in the diagnosis of CPPD at patient level.

Objectives:

To assess the diagnostic value of the combinations of OMERACT-defined US findings of CPPD in the upper and lower limbs and to select the best minimal combination of anatomic structures to be scanned for diagnosing CPPD in inter-critical periods.

Methods:

Patients with a crystal-proven diagnosis of CPPD and age- and sex-matched disease-controls were prospectively enrolled in this cross-sectional, monocentric, case-control study. All subjects underwent a bilateral US examination of 9 hyaline cartilages (HC), 6 fibrocartilages (FC), 5 tendons, 1 joint recess and 1 ligament as follows: shoulder (glenoid FC, humeral HC and acromioclavicular FC), elbow (humeral HC and triceps tendon), wrist (triangular FC, scapho-lunate ligament, volar recess of the radio-lunate joint), hand (HC of the metacarpophalangeal joints from 2nd to 5th finger), hip (acetabular FC and femoral HC), knee (femoral condyles’ HC, meniscal FC, patellar and quadriceps tendons), ankle (talar HC, Achilles tendon and plantar fascia). US assessment was carried-out by a rheumatologist blinded to clinical data. CPP deposits were identified as presence/absence, according to the OMERACT definitions [1].

Results:

Ninety-five patients were enrolled: 45 CPPD patients (age: 72±10.6 years, disease duration: 5.6±7.8 years, female/male ratio: 1.3) and 50 age- and sex-matched disease-controls (18 with rheumatoid arthritis, 13 with osteoarthritis, 10 with psoriatic arthritis and 9 with gout).

The FC of the medial and lateral meniscus were the most frequently involved targets of CPP deposits in cases (81.8% and 77.3% of patients, respectively), followed by the triangular FC of the wrist (68.2%), the HC of the femoral condyles (54.5%), the scapho-lunate ligament (52.3%) and the acetabular FC (50.0%). In all these anatomical targets, US findings indicative of CPP deposits were detected in a significantly higher percentage of cases than controls (p<0.01).

The US scanning protocols that showed the best balance between sensitivity and specificity, the most sensitive and the most specific were shown in Table 1.

Table 1.

Diagnostic performances of different US scanning protocols

Anatomical targetsSESPLH+LH-Knee meniscal FC and wrist triangular FC0.86(0.76-0.96)0.86(0.73-0.94)6.35(3.17-12.72)0.13(0.06-0.30)Knee meniscal FC, wrist triangular FC and hip acetabular FC0.93(0.82-0.99)0.82(0.69-0.91)5.19(2.85-9.42)0.08(0.03-0.24)Hip acetabular FC, knee femoral condyles’ HC andwrist scapho-lunate ligament0.67(0.51-0.80)0.96(0.86-0.99)16.67(4.22-65.82)0.35(0.23-0.53)

LH: likelihood ratio, SE: sensitivity, SP: specificity, US: ultrasonography.

In all US scanning protocols, each anatomical target was assessed bilaterally.

Figure 1 includes representative pictures showing CPP crystal deposits in different anatomical targets.

A: Wrist, longitudinal scan of the triangular FC complex.

B: Knee, longitudinal scan of the lateral meniscus.

C: Hip, longitudinal scan of the acetabular labrum FC,

D: Knee, longitudinal scan of the medial femoral condyle’s HC.

Arrows: CPP crystal deposits at FC, arrowhead: CPP crystal deposits at HC.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that bilateral US assessment of knee, wrist and hip provided acceptable sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing CPPD.

References:

[1]Filippou G, et al. Identification of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) by ultrasound: reliability of the OMERACT definitions in an extended set of joints-an international multiobserver study by the OMERACT Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease Ultrasound Subtask Force. Ann Rheum Dis. 2018;77:1194-9.

Disclosure of Interests:

Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Jacopo Di Battista: None declared, Walter Grassi Speakers bureau: Walter Grassi has received speaking fees from AbbVie, Celgene, Grünenthal, Pfizer and Union Chimique Belge Pharma., Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Emilio Filippucci. has received speaking fees from AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and Union Chimique Belge Pharma.

POS1141 ASSESSING RELEVANT JOINTS FOR MONITORING CPPD DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF IMAGING TECHNIQUES BY THE OMERACT ULTRASOUND – CPPD SUBGROUP

Background:

Imaging has been extensively used for the Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPPD) diagnosis but the prevalence of joint calcifications at imaging in CPPD patients has not been thoroughly assessed.

Objectives:

This systematic literature review (SLR) is aimed to estimate the prevalence of calcium crystal deposition in peripheral joints by imaging in suspected or definite CPPD patients to establish relevant joints for CPPD monitoring

Methods:

After defining PICOs, Pubmed and Embase were searched from inception to October 2020 for identifying studies that evaluated the use of Conventional Radiography (CR), Ultrasound (US), Computed Tomography (CT) and Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) in detecting calcifications at peripheral joints in patients with defined or probable CPPD. Search strategies based on MeSH terms and free text were applied. Six reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, eligible article full texts were evaluated for inclusion and data extraction.

Results:

The SLR identified 1149 manuscripts. 524 papers entered in the full text evaluation and 181 articles were finally included. Considering excluded abstracts and full texts, 23 and 17 were excluded as duplicate, 156 and 9 for language, 171 and 48 for population, 171 and 20 for intervention, 57 and 117 for outcome, 47 and 70 for study type and 76 for full text unavailability. Among included, 41 papers considered patients with definite CPPD with a total population of 1239 patients, 908 cases and 331 controls and 140 papers referred to patients with suspected CPPD with a total population of 26785 patients, 2896 affected by CPPD and 23889 controls. The results about all joints are summarized in the Table 1. In patients with definite diagnosis, knee and wrist are the joints with the highest prevalence of calcifications at all imaging types, followed by hip and acromion-clavicular joint while in patients with suspected CPPD, the knee is the most prevalent followed by the wrist, hip and ankle (only sites with more than 50 patients assessed considered). The hand joints are characterized by CPPD lowest prevalence at imaging. Bilateral imaging findings varies depending on the technique used, the site and the patient’s type.

Table 1.

Definite CPPD Diagnosis

KNEEWRISTHANDELBOWSHOULDERACHIPANKLEFOOTTMXRImaging positive cases/all cases330/584 57%214/409 52%43/158 27%54/212 25%65/249 26%37/84 44%140/293 48%30/255 12%15/59 25%0Cases positivebilaterally99/146 68%30/79 38%0/104/12 33%2/2 100%9/17 53%7/10 70%7/10 70%00USImaging positive cases/all cases155/252 62%86/118 75%4/42 9%2/2 100%0/304/30 13%47/80 59%30/255 12%15/59 25%0Cases positivebilaterally83/96 86%33/47 70%1/ 4 25%003/ 4 75%29/47 62%7/10 70%00CTImaging positive cases/all cases41/50 82%22/28 78%00000000Cases positivebilaterally27/30 90%000000000DECTImaging positive cases/all cases8/10 80%9/10 90%1/1 100%0000000Cases positivebilaterally001/1 100%0000000Suspected CPPD diagnosisKNEEWRISTHANDELBOWSHOULDERACHIPANKLEFOOTTMXRImaging positive cases/all cases1989/2442 81%549/1024 54%98/602 16%29/72 40%75/185 41%27/31 87%322/887 36%56/116 48%24/42 57%0Cases positive bilaterally611/1068 57%209/334 63%64/85 75%22/23 96%41/46 89%0/294/196 48%44/53 83%18/19 95%0USImaging positive cases/all cases241/261 93%125/185 68%2/39 5%1/1 100%4/12 33%02/2 100%27/78 35%8/37 22%0Cases positivebilaterally4/9 44%74/93 80%00000000CTImaging positive cases/all cases019/23 83%002/2 100%02/2 100%001/1 100%Cases positivebilaterally0000000001/1 100%DECTImaging positive cases/all cases1/1 100%2/2 100%00000000Cases positivebilaterally1/1 100%000000000

Table 1 For each joint, are summarized the ratio between positive joints and overall evaluated joints and the ratio between the joints positive bilaterally and overall joints evaluated bilaterally.

AC Acromion Clavicular, TM temporo mandibular

Conclusion:

According to the results of this SLR, knees and wrists could be the sentinel joints for CPPD detection by imaging.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared.

POS1066 IS ENTHESITIS A SONOGRAPHIC BIOMARKER OF DISEASE SEVERITY IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS? THE LINK BETWEEN ULTRASOUND ENTHESEAL ABNORMALITIES AND PERIPHERAL JOINT EROSIVE DAMAGE

Background:

Enthesitis is one of the hallmark of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Ultrasound (US) accurately detects morphostructural abnormalities indicative of entheseal inflammation and structural damage. Interestingly, in a recent study, US-detected entheseal pathology appeared to be a potential marker of disease severity, being associated with higher radiographic score of structural damage at peripheral joint level. (1) However, a sub-analysis of the impact of each elementary finding of US enthesitis was not performed. Moreover, some US entheseal abnormalities (hypoechogenicity, thickening and calcification/enthesophyte) have been described as frequent findings in healthy subjects and patients with dysmetabolic conditions, undermining their specificity. (2) Thus, we hypothesized that their role as a sonographic biomarker of joint disease severity could be questioned.

Objectives:

The main aim of the present study was to explore the association between the US elementary findings of enthesitis defined by OMERACT [i.e. hypoechogenicity, thickening, Doppler signal, calcification/enthesophyte and bone erosion at enthesis] (3) and the presence of US-detected joint bone erosions in patients with PsA.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with PsA (CASPAR criteria) were included in this cross-sectional single-centre study. The scanning protocol included bilateral assessment of the main entheses of the lower limbs [plantar fascia, quadriceps, patellar (proximal and distal) and Achilles tendons]. The presence of US joint bone erosions was investigated in the following areas: 2nd and 5th metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, ulnar head and 5th metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, bilaterally, as well as the most inflamed joint at the physical examination. The US examination was carried out with a 6-18 MHz probe. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis were performed to identify predictors of US joint bone erosions.

Results:

A total of 74 PsA patients were enrolled. The mean disease duration was 7.9±8.0 years. Joint bone erosions were found in 36/75 patients (48.0%), and in 71/600 joints (11.8%), most frequently in the 5th MTP joint (in 26/75 patients, 34.7%). The univariate analysis showed that entheseal bone erosions [odds ratio (OR) 27.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3-220.2, p value <0.01] and Doppler signal (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3 - 9.4, p value 0.01) were associated with joint bone erosions. Only entheseal bone erosions remained significantly associated with joint bone erosions in the multivariate analysis (Table 1).

Table 1.

Multivariate regression analysis: predictive value of the entheseal US findings for the presence of joint bone erosions.

OR (95% CI)P valueHypoechogenicity0.5 (0.1-3.4)0.45Thickening2.2 (0.6-8.3)0.27Doppler signal3.2 (0.9-10.8)0.06Calcification/enthesophyte1.1 (0.1-11.2)0.99Entheseal bone erosion24.2 (2.7-216.2)<0.01

Conclusion:

Entheseal bone erosion and, to a lesser extent, Doppler signal, were the only entheseal abnormalities correlated with the presence of US-detected joint bone erosions, representing potential sonographic biomarkers of disease severity in PsA.

References:

[1]Polachek A, Cook R, Chandran V, Gladman DD, Eder L. The association between sonographic enthesitis and radiographic damage in psoriatic arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2017; 15;19:189.

[2]Balint PV, Terslev L, Aegerter P, Bruyn GAW, Chary-Valckenaere I, Gandjbakhch F, et al. Reliability of a consensus-based ultrasound definition and scoring for enthesitis in spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: An OMERACT US initiative. Ann Rheum Dis 2018; 77(12):1730-5.

[3]Di Matteo A, Filippucci E, Cipolletta E, Martire V, Jesus D, Musca A, et al. How normal is the enthesis by ultrasound in healthy subjects? Clin Exp Rheumatol 2020;38:472-8.

Disclosure of Interests:

Gianluca Smerilli: None declared, Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Giulia Maria Destro Castaniti: None declared, Andrea Di Matteo: None declared, Marco Di Carlo: None declared, Erica Moscioni: None declared, Francesca Francioso: None declared, Walter Grassi Speakers bureau: W.G. has received speaking fees from AbbVie, Celgene, Grünenthal, Pfizer and UCB Pharma., Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: E.F. has received speaking fees from Abbvie, BMS, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Roche, Pfizer, UCB Pharma.

POS0565 IS ACTIVE SYNOVITIS OF METACARPOPHALANGEAL JOINTS A NEUROPATHIC CONDITION IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS? RESULTS FROM A ULTRASOUND STUDY AT LEVEL OF THE PALMAR DIGITAL NERVES

Background:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the joints of hands, wrists, and feet. Anatomical damage (at bone, cartilage and tendon level) occurs as a consequence of a persistent synovial inflammation (1). In RA, periarticular soft tissues, including nerves, may also be involved. In particular, there is a high prevalence of neuropathic conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in RA patients. In fact, the presence of inflammatory changes can frequently be documented by ultrasound (US) at the level of median nerve (2). Currently available very-high frequency US transducers allow high spatial resolution of small anatomical structures, including the palmar digital nerves.

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were: to document the presence of dimensional alterations of the palmar digital nerves, particularly in terms of increased cross-sectional area (CSA), and to determine the variables associated with increased CSA, in RA patients.

Methods:

From September 2020 to December 2020, adult RA patients from a tertiary outpatient clinic were consecutively included regardless of disease activity status. Patients underwent a clinical assessment to determine disease activity using the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), functional capacity using the QuickDASH, and the presence of neuropathic pain features using the PainDetect Questionnaire (PDQ). In the same visit, patients underwent a US examination of the 2nd to 5th metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPj) of the clinically more involved hand by an operator blinded to the clinical assessment. The presence/absence and US grading of synovitis was recorded for each joint. A third operator, blinded to the clinical and joint US assessment, measured the CSA of each pair of palmar digital nerves from 2nd to 5th finger scanned for assessment joint involvement. The CSA of the palmar digital nerves was measured at the MCPj. The US examinations were conducted with a MyLab Class C (Esaote, Genoa, Italy), with a 6-18 MHz probe for the articular examination, and with an 10-22 MHz probe for the examination of the palmar digital nerves. The serological status, respectively rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA), and the presence of radiographic erosive disease were also recorded for each patient. Statistical analysis was conducted by considering the sum of the CSA for each nerve pair of each finger. CSA was compared with respect to body mass index (BMI), disease duration, disease activity, US synovitis grading, functional capacity, neuropathic pain features, serological characteristics, and erosive status.

Results:

Sixty-three patients with RA were included, 48 women, 15 men, with a mean age of 62.2 (11.8, standard deviation [SD]) years, a mean disease duration of 10.9 (8.2) years, for a total of 252 MCPj and 504 palmar digital nerves. The CSA of the palmar digital nerves taken individually was 2.3 (0.9) mm2, ranging from 1 mm2 to 8 mm2, and 4.2 (1.5) mm2 as a pair for finger. There was a statistically significant association with disease activity as assessed by the CDAI (p <0.001), and with the grading of US synovitis (p <0.001), while there were no significant associations with any of the other variables.

Conclusion:

The presence of active RA, both in terms of clinical and ultrasonographic indices, correlates with an increased CSA of the palmar digital nerves. This alteration is probably due to inflammatory mechanisms of the perineural tissues at the level of the MCPj. Active synovitis during RA can somehow be framed as a condition capable of causing neuropathic damage to the palmar digital nerves.

References:

[1]Filippucci E, Cipolletta E, Mashadi Mirza R, et al. Ultrasound imaging in rheumatoid arthritis. Radiol Med 2019;124(11):1087-1100.

[2]Smerilli G, Di Matteo A, Cipolletta E, et al. Ultrasound assessment of carpal tunnel in rheumatoid arthritis and idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. Clin Rheumatol 2020; doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05293-z.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Structural damage in rheumatoid arthritis assessed by musculoskeletal ultrasound: A systematic literature review by the Structural Joint Damage Task Force of the OMERACT Ultrasound Working Group

OBJECTIVES

To identify and synthesize the evidence for the use and measurement properties of musculoskeletal ultrasound in assessing structural joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

A systematic literature search (SLR) of the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library was performed. Original articles were included published in English reporting on ultrasound of bone erosion, cartilage damage and the measurement properties of ultrasound according to the OMERACT filter 2.1.

RESULTS

Of the 1.495 identified articles 149 were included in the final review, most of which reported on cross-sectional studies and used the OMERACT definitions for ultrasonographic pathology. Among these, bone erosions were assessed in 139 (93.3%), cartilage damage in 24 (16.1%), enthesophytes in 8 (5.4%), osteophytes in 15 (10.1%) and malalignment and ankylosis in a single (0.9%) study, respectively. Most studies (126/149, 84.6%) assessed the joints of the hands. The overwhelming majority of studies (127/149, 85.2%) assessed structural joint damage bilaterally. Validity, reliability and responsiveness were assessed in 21 (14.1%), 34 (22.8%) and 17 (11.4%) studies, respectively.

CONCLUSION

While the results of this SLR suggest that ultrasound is a sensitive, reliable and feasible tool to detect damage in RA, they also highlight the need for further research and validation. Findings of this SLR will inform the next steps of the OMERACT Ultrasound Working Group in developing an ultrasound score for assessing structural joint damage in patients with RA.

THU0420 ULTRASOUND SHOWS GREAT ACCURACY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF CRYSTAL ARTHRITIS IN PATIENTS WITH RECENT-ONSET SYNOVITIS

Background:

The value of ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of crystal arthropathy, such as gout or calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), in patients with recent onset synovitis has been evaluated only by a few studies.

Objectives:

To investigate, in patients with acute arthritis, the accuracy of US for the diagnosis of crystal arthropathy.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with recent onset (<6 weeks) acute arthritis were enrolled. The US examinations were performed a rheumatologist blinded to clinical data. Calcium pyrophosphate and monosodium urate crystal deposits were identified in the joint affected by synovitis (target joint), as well as in the classic sites for gout and CPPD (set of joint) (Table 1), according to the OMERACT definitions.

Table 1.

Anatomical targets of ultrasound examination

GoutCPPDBothWristRadiocarpal jIntercarpal jTriangular FC complexScapho-lunate ligament/HandDC in the II MCPj HCDeposits within the II MCPj HCII MCPjKneePopliteal grooveDC in the femoral condyle’s HCMeniscal FCDeposits within the femoral condyles’ HCSupra-patellar recessesHipDC in the femoral head’s HCDeposits within the femoral head’s HCAcetabular FCHip jFootDC in the I MTPj HCDeposits within I MTPj HCI MTPj

Legend.DC: double contour,FC: fibrocartilage,HC: hyaline cartilage,MCPj: metacarpophalangeal joint,MTPj: metatarsophalangeal joint,j: joint.

Table 2.

Diagnostic accuracy of US and SFA

SensitivitySpecificityPositive LHRNegative LHRUS (target joint)Crystal arthritis0.84(0.7-0.93)0.91(0.8-0.97)9.5(4.1-22)0.2(0.1-0.3)CPPD0.91(0.71-0.99)0.91(0.80-0.97)10.2(4.4-23.8)0.1(0-0.4)Gout0.83(0.61-0.97)0.91(0.80-0.97)9.1(3.9-21.4)0.2(0.1-0.5)US (set of joints)Crystal arthritis0.96(0.85-0.99)0.87(0.76-0.95)7.6(3.8-15.3)0.1(0-0.2)CPPD1(0.85-1)0.88(0.76-0.95)8(4-16)0(0-0.2)Gout0.91(0.72-0.99)0.88(0.76-0.95)7.3(3.6-14.8)0.1(0-0.4)SFACrystal arthritis0.9(0.77-0.97)1(0.94-1)/0.1(0-0.2)CPPD0.90(0.7-0.99)1.0(0.94-1)/0.1(0-0.3)Gout0.91(0.71-0.99)1(0.94-1)/0.1(0-0.3)

Legend.LHR: likelihood ratio

SFA was performed in 67 knees (64.4%), 10 wrists (9.6%), 10 ankles (9.6%), 5 I MTP joints (4.8%), 5 hips (4.8%), 4 elbows (3.8%), 4 shoulders (3.8%).

The total agreement between US and SFA was excellent (93.8% in CPPD and 90.2% in gout). SFA positive/US negative results occurred in 1 patient with CPPD (1.2%) and in 4 patients with gout (4.9%). On the contrary, US positive/SFA negative results occurred in 4 patients with CPPD (4.9%) and in 4 patients with gout (4.9%).

The diagnostic accuracy of US and synovial fluid analysis (SFA) was evaluated taking the classification criteria for gout and CPPD as gold standard (1,2). Moreover, the US and SFA results were compared in the joints in which the SFA was performed.

Results:

One-hundred and four patients were enrolled: 22 CPPD patients, 23 with gout and 59 disease controls. Table 2 reports the diagnostic accuracy of US and SFA, using the classification criteria as gold standard.

Figure 1

provides a pictorial evidence of the US appearance of crystal deposits. A: anterior suprapatellar transverse scan of the femoral condylar HC. HC calcifications (arrows) B: anterior longitudinal scan of the hip. FC calcification (asterisk) C: anterior longitudinal scan of the ankle. DC sign (void arrow) . D: dorsal longitudinal scan of distal interphalangeal joint. DC sign (void arrow).

Conclusion:

US is useful for the diagnosis of gout and CPPD in patients with acute synovitis. Extending the US evaluation to the joints which are most commonly involved in gout and in CPPD, other than those affected by synovitis, increases the sensitivity of US.

References:

[1]Neogi T, et al. 2015 Gout classification criteria: an ACR/EULAR collaborative initiative. Ann Rheum Dis 2015

[2]McCarty D. CPPD Disease: Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria. Ann Intern Med 1977

Disclosure of Interests: :

Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Andrea Di Matteo Grant/research support from: the publication was conducted while Dr. Di Matteo was an ARTICULUM fellow, Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Dr. Filippucci reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work., Walter Grassi Speakers bureau: Prof. Grassi reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Grünenthal, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, outside the submitted work.

OP0317 ACCURACY OF THE OMERACT DEFINITIONS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE CRYSTALS WITH ULTRASOUND: FINAL RESULTS OF THE OMERACT US IN CPPD SUB-TASK FORCE STUDY

Background:

The OMERACT Ultrasound (US) in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) sub-task force has been working on the use of US in CPPD since 2014 first creating definitions for CPPD identification and then assessing the reliability[1].

Objectives:

Objective of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy (truth) of US in CPPD.

Methods:

Consecutive patients waiting to undergo knee replacement surgery due to osteoarthritis were enrolled in 12 centres from 6 countries. Each patient underwent US examination of the knee, focusing on the menisci and the hyaline cartilage, the day prior to surgery, scoring each site for presence/absence of CPP as defined previously[1]. After surgery, the menisci and the condyles were retrieved and examined microscopically. Six samples were collected, both from the surface and from the internal part of menisci and cartilage trying to cover a large part of it. All slides were observed under transmitted light microscopy and by compensated polarised microscopy. A dichotomous score was given for the presence/absence of CPP. US and microscopic analysis were performed by different operators, blind to each other’s findings. Sensitivity and specificity of US were calculated using microscopic findings as the gold standard.

Results:

101 patients have been enrolled in the study. 33 patients have been excluded due to loss of anatomical pieces at surgery. The mean age of the remaining 68 pts was 71yo (±8), 44 women, 34 were affected by CPPD according to microscopy. Overall and per site diagnostic US accuracy results are presented in table 1

Diagnostic accuracySensitivitySpecificityPositive Predictive valueNegative Predictive valueGlobal0.750.910.590.690.87Medial meniscus0.820.870.770.770.87Lateral meniscus0.750.830.680.680.83Medial cartilage0.860.790.920.880.85Lateral cartilage0.820.710.880.770.84Medial side (combined cartilage and meniscus)0.820.880.760.790.87Lateral side (combined cartilage and meniscus)0.780.880.690.730.86

Conclusion:

Our results demonstrate that US is an accurate exam for identification of CPPD. The best combination of sensitivity and specificity is achieved by examining the medial aspect of the knee.

References:

[1]Filippou G, Scirè CA, Adinolfi A,et al.Identification of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) by ultrasound: reliability of the OMERACT definitions in an extended set of joints—an international multiobserver study by the OMERACT Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease Ultrasound Subtask Force.Ann Rheum Dis2018;:annrheumdis-2017-212542. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212542

Disclosure of Interests:

Georgios Filippou: None declared, Anna Scanu: None declared, Antonella Adinolfi: None declared, Carmela Toscano: None declared, Dario Gambera: None declared, Raquel Largo: None declared, Esperanza Naredo: None declared, Emilio Calvo: None declared, Gabriel Herrero-Beaumont: None declared, Pascal Zufferey: None declared, Christel Madelaine-Bonjour: None declared, Daryl MacCarter: None declared, Stanley Makman: None declared, Zachary Weber: None declared, Fabiana Figus: None declared, Ingrid Möller: None declared, Marwin Gutierrez: None declared, Carlos Pineda: None declared, Denise Clavijo Cornejo: None declared, Héctor García: None declared, Victor Ilizaliturri: None declared, Jaime Mendoza Torres: None declared, Raul Pichardo: None declared, Luis Carlos Rodriguez Delgado: None declared, Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Dr. Filippucci reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work., Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Teodora Serban: None declared, Catalin Cirstoiu: None declared, Florentin Ananu Vreju: None declared, Dun Grecu: None declared, Gael Mouterde: None declared, Marcello Govoni: None declared, Leonardo Punzi: None declared, Nemanja Damjanov Grant/research support from: from AbbVie, Pfizer, and Roche, Consultant of: AbbVie, Gedeon Richter, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Gedeon Richter, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche, Lene Terslev Speakers bureau: LT declares speakers fees from Roche, MSD, BMS, Pfizer, AbbVie, Novartis, and Janssen., Carlo Alberto Scirè: None declared, Annamaria Iagnocco Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Alfasigma, Consultant of: AbbVie, Abiogen, Alfasigma, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Sanofi and Sanofi Genzyme, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Alfasigma, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Sanofi

THU0407 THE VALUE OF SONOGRAPHY IN THE INTERCRITICAL PHASE OF GOUT

Background:

Disease remission is the goal of therapy for many chronic rheumatic diseases. In 2016, provisional gout remission criteria were proposed (1). To the best of our knowledge, no studies have compared ultrasound (US) findings in gouty patients with and without remission.

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence of US pathologic findings in patients with gout fulfilling and not fulfilling the provisional remission criteria and to investigate the value of the US findings as predictors of a gouty flare within 6 months.

Methods:

Patients with a diagnosis of gout according to the 2015 classification criteria (2) were recruited in this prospective, monocentric study. The following clinical information was recorded at baseline and after 6 months: number of gouty flares in the preceding 6 months, number of subcutaneous tophi, current serum urate level, and patient reported outcomes (pain visual analogue scale and patient global assessment visual analogue scale). Bilateral US assessment of the following anatomical areas was performed (3): elbow, wrist, II metacarpophalangeal joint, knee, ankle and I metatarsophalangeal joint. US evidence of tophi, aggregates, double contour sign and synovitis were recorded according to the correspondent OMERACT definitions.

Results:

Forty-nine patients with gout were consecutively enrolled. The remission criteria were satisfied in 9 (18.4%) patients. Monosodium urate (MSU) deposits and findings of synovitis were observed by US less frequently in patients in remission (55.6% and 22.2%), compared with those not fulfilling the criteria (100.0% and 72.5%) (p values<0.01). The US MSU total score was 1.0; 0.0–2.0 (median and inter-quartile range) for patients in remission, compared with 6.0; 5.0–7.0 for those not fulfilling the criteria (p<0.01). US synovitis total score was significantly correlated with patient global assessment (R=0.55, p<0.01), patient pain (R=0.51, p<0.01) and number of gouty attacks in the previous 6 months (R=0.36, p=0.03), whereas MSU total score was associated with the number of gouty attacks in the previous 6 months (R=0.49, p<0.01), the number of subcutaneous tophi (R=0.45, p<0.01), patient pain (R=0.41, p=0.01), patient global assessment (R=0.41, p<0.01). At logistic regression analysis, the presence of subcutaneous tophi (OR=2.8, p=0.02), CRP level (OR=6.5, p=0.04) and US synovitis score (OR=2.0, p=0.04) and were predictors of subsequent development of gouty flare within 6 months.

Conclusion:

This study provides new insights into the inter-critical phase of gout, highlighting the clinical relevance of US synovitis as a predictor of subsequent development of gouty flare and joint pain. Despite MSU deposits are still detectable in patients satisfying the 2016 provisional remission criteria for gout, the remission is associated with less US detected MSU deposits.

References:

[1]de Lautour H, et al. Development of preliminary Remission Criteria for Gout Using Delphi and 1000Minds Consensus Exercises. Arthritis Care Res 2016

[2]Neogi T, et al. 2015 Gout classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Ann Rheum Dis 2015

[3]Naredo E, et al. Ultrasound-detected musculoskeletal urate crystal deposition: which joints and what findings should be assessed for diagnosing gout? Ann Rheum Dis 2014

Disclosure of Interests: :

Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Andrea Di Matteo Grant/research support from: the publication was conducted while Dr. Di Matteo was an ARTICULUM fellow, Giada Brunori: None declared, Antonella Moretti: None declared, Walter Grassi Speakers bureau: Prof. Grassi reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Grünenthal, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, outside the submitted work., Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Dr. Filippucci reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work.

THU0419 BIOLOGICS IN THE TREATMENT OF CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE DEPOSITION DISEASE. A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Background:

Only few case reports and case series have analysed the efficacy of IL-1 inhibitors in the treatment of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), reporting conflicting results.

Objectives:

The main aim of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to summarize the evidence in the use of biological therapies in CPPD.

Methods:

PRISMA-IPD guidelines were used for this review. Published articles reporting the use of TNFα and/or IL-1 inhibitors in the treatment of CPPD were reviewed. We performed a SLR using PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases. The search resulted in 83 articles; 11 were further evaluated in the SLR.

Results:

Seventy-six patients were included: 2 received infliximab, whereas 74 anakinra. The main data of included studies are reported in table 1.

Table 1.

Studies evaluating biological therapies in patients with CPPD.

AuthorsYear of publicationPopulation of interestNumber of CPPD patientsDiagnostic criteriaClinical presentationMcGonagle D. et al.2008CPPD1SFAChronicAnnoun N. et al.2009CPPD1SFAAcuteCouderc M. et al.2012CPPD3ImagingAcute and chronicDiamantopoulos A.P. et al.2012CPPD1SFAChronicMoltó A. et al.2012CPPD5SFAAcute and chronicOttaviani S. et al.2013CPPD16SFA and/or imagingAcuteVerhoeven F. et al.2013G and CPPD2NRAcute and chronicBruges-Armas J. et al.2014CPPD2NRChronicAouba A. et al.2015G, CPPD and HADD1ImagingAcuteDesmarais J. et al.2018G, CPPD11SFA and/or imagingAcuteThomas M. et al.2018CPPD32SFA and/or imagingAcute

Legend.G: gout,HADD: hydroxyapatite deposition disease,NR: not reported,SFA: synovial fluid analysis

Table 2.

Efficacy of anakinra in the treatment of CPPD

Acute CPPD (n=67)Chronic CPPD (n=7)Clinical efficacy (%)54 (80.6)3 (42.9)Pre TJC6.3±2.43.8±2.4Post TJC1.2±0.61.3±1.5Mean reduction5.1±2.3*2.5±1.9+Pre SJC4.8±2.23.8±2.4Post SJC1.1±0.61.3±1.5Mean reduction3.7±2.2*2.5±1.9+Pre VAS pain (0-100 mm)68.5±9.5/Post VAS pain (0-100 mm)24.2±10.4/Mean reduction44.2±10.9*/Pre CRP (mg/l)40.9±50.950.0±66.5Post CRP (mg/l)22.2±8.63.2±2.5Mean reduction18.6±54.1*46.7±64.0+

Legend. CRP: C-reactive protein,SJC: swollen joint count,TJC: tender joint count,VAS: visual analogue scale.+p values were not calculated because of a too small sample size. * p values were <0.01

Sixty-seven (88.2%) patients presented with an acute CPPD (mean disease duration: 2.7±6.9 months; polyarticular involvement in 61.2%, oligoarticular in 31.3% and monoarticular in 7.5%), whereas 9 (11.8%) patients with a chronic CPPD (mean disease duration: 130.1±133.6 months; polyarticular involvement in 66.7% and oligoarticular in 33.3%).

Anakinra was used in refractory disease (85.1%) or in patients with contraindications to standard treatments such as colchicine, oral glucocorticoids and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (23.0%). Clinical response to anakinra was reported in table 2.

Duration of anakinra treatment prior to complete resolution of symptoms was associated with the clinical phenotype of chronic CPPD (Rpb: 0.67, p<0.01) and with disease duration (R: 0.49, p<0.01). In 47 out of 57 (82.5%) responders, complete resolution of symptoms was observed within 4 days after the first injection of anakinra. Adverse events were reported in 4.1% of the cases: local skin reaction at the injection site, skin rash on the back and bacterial pneumonia.

Conclusion:

This SLR provides evidence in favour of the use of anakinra as a therapeutic option in patients with CPPD, especially in acute refractory CPPD or when standard treatments are contraindicated.

Disclosure of Interests: :

Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Andrea Di Matteo Grant/research support from: the publication was conducted while Dr. Di Matteo was an ARTICULUM fellow, Anna Scanu: None declared, Martina Isidori: None declared, Jacopo Di Battista: None declared, Leonardo Punzi: None declared, Walter Grassi Speakers bureau: Prof. Grassi reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Grünenthal, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, outside the submitted work., Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Dr. Filippucci reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work.

SAT0439 POWER DOPPLER ULTRASOUND ASSESSMENT OF A1 PULLEY. A NEW TARGET IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS?

Background:

In the last few years annular pulleys inflammation has been highlighted as a possible key pathogenetic factor in psoriatic dactylitis, first with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)1, then, in a very recent paper2, with power Doppler (PD) ultrasound (US). However, the prevalence of PD US inflammation of annular pulleys in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients has not been investigated yet.

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence of PD US findings indicative of A1 pulley inflammation in PsA patients and in controls with RA and to preliminarily investigate the correlation between A1 pulley inflammation and disease activity (DAPSA).

Methods:

Consecutive patients with PsA and RA were included in this cross-sectional single-centre study. A rheumatologist recorded demographic and clinical data and in the same day another rheumatologist performed the US examination using a MyLab ClassC (Esaote, Genova, Italy) equipped with a 10-22 MHz linear probe. A1 pulleys of fingers 2ndto 5thwere assessed bilaterally adopting longitudinal and transverse scans. The following pathological US findings were recorded: inflammation of the pulley (defined as the presence of PD signal within a thickened pulley) and tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendons at finger level according to OMERACT definition.

Results:

Sixty patients were enrolled: 30 with PsA and 30 with RA. Inflammation of A1 pulley was found in 15 out 240 fingers (6.3%) of 8 (26.7%) PsA patients and in 1 out of 240 fingers (0.4%) of 1 (3.3%) RA patients (p<0.01 and p=0.03 respectively). Both pulley inflammation and tenosynovitis were correlated with DAPSA (Rpb=0.56, p<0.01 and Rpb=0.48, p<0.01). In fact, 7 out 8 (88%) PsA patients with at least one inflamed A1 pulley had a moderate/high disease activity score. The regression linear analysis (R2=0.36, adjusted R2=0.31) showed that A1 pulley inflammation was correlated with higher DAPSA scores (β=0.43, p=0.03). No significant association was reported between A1 pulley inflammation and past or current episodes of dactylitis (p=0.09). However, the only current dactylitis assessed showed A1 pulley inflammation.

Conclusion:

This pilot study demonstrated that ultrasound A1 pulley inflammation, defined as the presence of power Doppler signal within a thickened pulley, is relatively common at patient level in psoriatic arthritis and seems to be characteristic of PsA compared to RA. In psoriatic arthritis patients, a positive significant correlation was found between ultrasound A1 pulley inflammation and disease activity.

References:

[1]Tan AL, Fukuba E, Halliday NA, Tanner SF, Emery P, McGonagle D. High-resolution MRI assessment of dactylitis in psoriatic arthritis shows flexor tendon pulley and sheath-related enthesitis. Ann Rheum Dis 2015; 74: 185-9.

[2]Tinazzi I, McGonagle D, Macchioni P, Aydin SZ. Power Doppler enhancement of accessory pulleys confirming disease localization in psoriatic dactylitis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2019 [Epub ahead of print].

Disclosure of Interests:

Gianluca Smerilli: None declared, Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Marco Di Carlo: None declared, Andrea Di Matteo Grant/research support from: the publication was conducted while Dr. Di Matteo was an ARTICULUM fellow, Walter Grassi Speakers bureau: Prof. Grassi reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Grünenthal, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, outside the submitted work., Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Dr. Filippucci reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work.

SAT0554 SONOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE DEPOSITION DISEASE AT WRIST. A FOCUS ON THE SCAPHO-LUNATE LIGAMENT

Background:

Only few articles evaluated the wrist in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), although it is the second most frequent target of CPPD. Very recently, in a computed tomography (CT) study ligamentous calcifications were reported as a highly specific feature of CPPD at wrist level (1).

Objectives:

i) to determine the prevalence and distribution of the ultrasound (US) findings indicative of calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal deposits at the wrist, with a particular focus on the dorsal aspect of the scapho-lunate ligament (SLL); ii) to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of US and conventional radiography (CR) in the evaluation of CPP crystal deposits at wrist level, iv) to assess the agreement between the different imaging techniques.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with a “definite” diagnosis of CPPD according to the Ryan and McCarty criteria and disease controls were prospectively included in this cross-sectional single-centre study. Dorsal part of the SLL, triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC), and volar recess of the radio-lunate joint were explored using US (according to EULAR standard scans and OMERACT definitions), CR and CT.

Results:

Sixty-one CPPD patients and 39 disease controls were enrolled. Two-hundred wrists were evaluated using both CR and US. CT data of 26 (13.0%) wrists were available: 20 wrists in CPPD patients and 6 wrists in controls. CPP crystal deposits were found by US in at least one wrist in 95.1% of CPPD patients and in 15.4% of controls (p<0.001). SLL calcification was reported in 83.6% of CPPD patients and in 5.1% of controls (p<0.001). CPP crystal deposits were observed by US at the SLL and/or radio-lunate joint in 5.7% of wrists and 6.6% of CPPD patients, but not at the TFCC of the same wrist. On CR, calcifications were found in at least one wrist in 72.1% of CPPD patients and in 0% of controls (p<0.001). Using the Ryan-McCarty criteria as a gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 0.72 (0.59-0.83), 1.0 (0.91-1.0) and 0.83 (0.74-0.90) for CR and 0.95 (0.86-0.99), 0.85 (0.69-0.94) and 0.91 (0.84-0.96) for US. Table 1 shows the agreement between the different imaging techniques.

Tabel 1.

Agreement between US and the other imaging techniques in the evaluation of CPP crystal deposits at the wrist.

US-CR (n=200)US-CT (n=26)TFCC0.55 (0.43-0.67)0.70 (0.43-0.97)SLL0.23 (0.07-0.39)0.69 (0.41-0.97)RLJ0.25 (0.09-0.41)0.46 (0.12-0.80)

Legend.n: number of the wrists,RLJ: volar recess of the radio-lunate joint. Values in brackets are the 95% confidence intervals of the Cohen’s kappa.

Figure 1

provides a pictorial evidence of the appearance of CPP crystal deposits in the SLL.A: CPP crystal deposits (curved arrow) at the TFCC. The SLL is not assessable due to superimposition of other bones.B: in the same patient of figure 1A, CT scan shows the presence of a calcification of the dorsal aspect of the SLL (arrow).C: dorsal longitudinal scan of the SLL: isolated hyperechoic spot (arrowheads) inside the ligament.D: dorsal longitudinal scan of the SLL showing the presence of a large aggregate extending towards the extensor tendons and hyperechoic spots (arrowheads) within it.Legend.iii: third extensor compartment,iv: fourth extensor compartment,l: lunate bone,s:scaphoid bone.

Conclusion:

This study supports the diagnostic accuracy of US in evaluating wrist involvement in CPPD patients. SLL calcifications are a specific US finding of CPPD at wrist level.

References:

[1]Ziegeler K, Diekhoff T, Hermann S, et al. Low-dose computed tomography as diagnostic tool in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease arthropathy: focus on ligamentous calcifications of the wrist. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2019;37:826-33.

Disclosure of Interests:

Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Gianluca Smerilli: None declared, Riccardo Mashadi Mirza: None declared, Andrea Di Matteo Grant/research support from: the publication was conducted while Dr. Di Matteo was an ARTICULUM fellow, Fausto Salaffi Speakers bureau: Dr. Salaffi reports personal fees from Bristol Myers Squibb, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Merck Sharp & Dohme Italia, outside the submitted work., Walter Grassi Speakers bureau: Prof. Grassi reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Grünenthal, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, outside the submitted work., Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Dr. Filippucci reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work.

SAT0031 CORRELATION BETWEEN IRREVERSIBLE PHYSICAL DISABILITY AND JOINT DAMAGE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background:

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), irreversible physical disability appears to be more clearly associated with cartilage damage rather than with bone erosions (BE) using conventional radiography (CR) imaging.

Objectives:

To investigate the correlation between the ultrasound (US) and CR findings indicative of joint damage and irreversible physical disability in patients with RA in sustained clinical remission.

Methods:

Patients in sustained clinical remission according to the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI)≤3.3 for at least 6 months were enrolled. The following data were regireted: age, disease duration, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACPA) antibody and rheumatoid factor (RF) status, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), CR of hands and feet [evaluated using the Simple Erosion Narrowing Score (SENS) method]. A standardized US examination was carried out to investigate the presence of BE (lateral side of II metacarpophalangeal, V metacarpophalangeal and V metatarsophalangeal joints and ulnar styloid) and of cartilage damage (II to V metacarpal heads), bilaterally. BE and cartilage damage were assessed according to OMERACT definitions. A semiquantitative scoring system for both BE (1) and cartilage damage (2) was adopted.

Results:

Ninety patients were consecutively enrolled. Average time for US evaluation was 10±2 minutes. Both SENS-JSN and US score of cartilage damage (US-CD) were significantly associated with irreversible disability (R=0.39, p<0.01 and R=0.46, p<0.01). US and CR showed a moderate agreement in the evaluation of cartilage damage (kappa=0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.44-0.61).

Figure 1.

shows the association between disability and structural damage (A: US-CD, B: US-BE, C: SENS-JSN and D: SENS-BE). After adjusting for confounding factors (age, disease duration, ACPA and RF status, SENS-BE and US-BE) cartilage damage was the only significant predictor of irreversible disability both using CR (R2=0.31, adjusted R2=0.26, standardized β=0.36, p<0.01) and US (R2=0.31, adjusted R2=0.26, standardized β=0.34, p<0.01).

Conclusion:

This study supports the hypothesis that cartilage damage is more relevant than BE in determining irreversible disability in RA. Our data provide further evidence in favor of the external validity of US in the assessment of cartilage damage.

References:

[1] Ohrndorf S, Messerschmidt J, Reiche BE, et al. Evaluation of a new erosion score by musculoskeletal ultrasound in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: is US ready for a new erosion score? Clin Rheumatol. 2014;33:1255-62.

[2] Mandl P, Studenic P, Filippucci E, et al. Development of semiquantitative ultrasound scoring system to assess cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2019;58:1802-11.

Disclosure of Interests:

Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Antonella Incorvaia: None declared, Riccardo Mashadi Mirza: None declared, Andrea Di Matteo Grant/research support from: the publication was conducted while Dr. Di Matteo was an ARTICULUM fellow, Marika Tardella: None declared, Walter Grassi Speakers bureau: Prof. Grassi reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Grünenthal, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, outside the submitted work., Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Dr. Filippucci reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work.

SAT0070 LUNG ULTRASOUND IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND THE DEFINITION OF SIGNIFICANT INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE

Background:

In recent years, a growing interest has grown around interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest remains the diagnostic method of choice, increasing attention has been directed towards lung ultrasound (LUS) in the diagnosis of ILD in connective tissue diseases. LUS allows the detection of artifacts (B-lines) characteristic of ILD, without the need to use ionizing radiation. However, it is not yet well defined how to interpret the LUS findings under suspicion of RA-ILD.

Objectives:

To determine the cut-off number of LUS B-lines that identifies a significant RA-ILD.

Methods:

A cross sectional study was conducted on consecutive RA patients with suspected RA-ILD. The inclusion criteria were clinical (dyspnea, velcro sounds), instrumental (suggestive anomalies on conventional radiography, DLco reduction), or in presence of at least two of the following risk factors for RA-ILD: smoking habit, male sex, advanced age, and ACPA presence.

Patients underwent LUS, chest HRCT, pulmonary function tests, and clinical evaluation. The diagnosis of RA-ILD was based on a semi-quantitative evaluation of HRCT using a computer-aided method (CaM). The 10% of fibrosis, measured with this method, was considered as a cut-off for the presence of significant RA-ILD. The LUS was carried out in 14 defined intercostal spaces using a linear multifrequency probe 6-18 MHz (MyLab Class C, Esaote S.p.A., Genoa, Italy) and the number of B-lines present in each intercostal space was counted and summed up (Figure 1). The discriminating validity of the LUS versus HRCT has been studied by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Figure 1.

LUS B-line illustrative.

Results:

72 consecutive RA patients (21 male, 51 female) were evaluated, with a mean age of 63.0 (SD 11.5 years), a mean ACPA titre of 327.6 (SD 633.3) U/ml and a rheumatoid factor of 324.6 (SD 748.7) U/ml. The mean estimate of pulmonary fibrosis using the CaM was 11.2% (SD 7.5) at HRCT, while at LUS the mean number of B-lines was 10.6 (SD 15.1). Pulmonary fibrosis of 10% as measured by the CaM at HRCT was detected in 25 patients (34.72%). Applying this HRCT cut-off point as an estimate of significant fibrosis, the presence of 9 B-lines was found to be the optimal cut-off at ROC curve analysis. This LUS cut-off defines the presence of significant fibrosis with a sensitivity of 70.0%, a specificity of 97.62%, and a positive likelihood ratio of 29.4 (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Area under the ROC curve to determine the number of B-lines at LUS to define a significant RA-ILD, applying the 10% of fibrosis at chest HRCT measured by OsiriX as external criterion.

Conclusion:

The present study provided data to determine the number of B-lines to identify a significant RA-ILD. LUS may represent a useful technique to select RA patients to be assessed by chest HRCT.

References:

[1] Tardella M, et al. Ultrasound B-lines in the evaluation of interstitial lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis: Cut-off point definition for the presence of significant pulmonary fibrosis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(18):e0566.

[2] Salaffi F, et al. High-resolution computed tomography of the lung in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Prevalence of interstitial lung disease involvement and determinants of abnormalities. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(38):e17088.

Disclosure of Interests:

Marco Di Carlo: None declared, Marika Tardella: None declared, Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Dr. Filippucci reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work., Fausto Salaffi: None declared

Ultrasound in the assessment of musculoskeletal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus: state of the art and perspectives

Musculoskeletal manifestations are extremely common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Transient and migratory arthralgia is frequently reported even without clinical signs of joint or tendon inflammation. In less than 15% of patients, joints may be more severely affected by deforming (Jaccoud's arthropathy) and/or erosive arthropathy (Rhupus syndrome). In recent years, ultrasound has emerged as a promising imaging technique for the assessment of musculoskeletal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus, having demonstrated the ability to detect inflammation and structural damage both at articular and periarticular level. Recent ultrasound studies have also revealed new insights into musculoskeletal involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, some of them questioning the traditional concepts of systemic lupus erythematosus arthropathy, with potential clinical, prognostic and therapeutic implications. In daily clinical practice, the use of ultrasound in the assessment of joint and tendon involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is still limited. Several methodological issues encountered in ultrasound studies evaluating musculoskeletal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus patients need to be addressed in order to improve both the reliability and clinical usefulness of ultrasound findings. This paper reviews ultrasound studies assessing musculoskeletal involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, highlighting certainty, limits, potential applications and future perspectives of ultrasound use in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus arthropathy: the sonographic perspective

Background Despite being promising, the use of ultrasound (US) in the assessment of musculoskeletal manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is still limited. Literature on this topic is scarce and the spectrum and clinical relevance of US abnormalities has not yet been outlined. With this paper, we aim to explore the panel of joint and tendon US findings in a group of SLE patients. Methods Twenty-five consecutive SLE patients, with current or medical history of musculoskeletal symptoms, were studied. All patients underwent routine clinical examination and US evaluation. The US examination targeted sites clinically involved in the physical examination and/or indicated as painful in the patient's medical history. Results One or more US changes were found in all the patients. US abnormalities were detected in 85 out of the 243 scanned joints (35%), in 70 out of the 215 scanned tendons (32.6%) and in 10 out of the 41 scanned entheses (24.4%). Synovial effusion, synovial hypertrophy, "mixed" synovitis (coexistence of synovial effusion and synovial hypertrophy), joint dislocation, bone erosion, and cartilage damage were found in 9.5%, 11.5%, 14%, 3.7%, 2.1%, and 4.5% of the scanned joints, respectively. Tenosynovitis, tendon dislocation, tendon tear, tendon thinning, and tendinitis/peritendinitis were detected in 17.7%, 8.4%, 0.9%, 4.2%, and 4.7% of the scanned tendons, respectively. Power Doppler signal, hypoechogenicity, thickening, enthesophytes, calcifications, and bone erosions were detected at the entheseal level in 12.2%, 9.8%, 12.2%, 7.3%, 7.3%, and in 0% of the scanned entheses, respectively. Conclusions This study revealed an unexpectedly wide heterogeneity of US pathologic findings in the joints and tendons of patients with SLE. A broad spectrum of US changes also involving anatomic structures not considered in previous investigations, including entheses and tendons with no synovial sheath, was detected. These preliminary results suggest that US is able to identify several US "patterns" whose clinical, prognostic, and pathogenetic significance is still to be defined.

Entheseal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus: are we missing something?

Background Musculoskeletal involvement is extremely common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Continuing the research initiated in patients with inflammatory arthritis, recent studies have shown the potential role of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) in the evaluation of clinical and subclinical lupus synovitis. The inflammatory process in SLE is traditionally considered to be localized at synovial tissue areas while enthesis is not included among the possible targets of the disease. Patients and methods Entheses included in the Glasgow Ultrasound Enthesitis Scoring System were scanned in a cohort of 20 SLE patients serving as disease controls in an MSUS study aimed at assessing enthesitis in patients with psoriatic arthritis. We describe in detail four cases with unexpected and unequivocal expressions of MSUS enthesitis according to the OMERACT definition. Three out of four patients had no predisposing factors for enthesopathy. Case no. 2 was treated with a variable-dose prednisone regimen. Results In the four cases MSUS examination revealed relevant grey-scale and power Doppler abnormalities at the entheseal level, most commonly at the distal insertion of the patellar tendon. Signs of clinical enthesitis were detected in only one patient. Conclusions This case series shows for the first time the presence of clearly evident MSUS findings indicative of enthesitis in four out of 20 SLE patients (20%), raising the hypothesis that enthesis could be a missing target in the clinical evaluation of SLE patients. Our case series justifies further investigations for a better evaluation of the prevalence, characteristics and clinical relevance of entheseal involvement in SLE.

Ultrasound in the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease. A systematic literature review and a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Ultrasonography (US) demonstrated to be a promising tool for the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD). The aim of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to collect the definitions for the US elementary lesions and to summarize the available data about US diagnostic accuracy in CPPD.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed all the studies that considered US as the index test for CPPD diagnosis without restrictions about the reference test or that provided definitions about US identification of CPPD. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each study and definitions were extrapolated. Subgroup analyses were planned by anatomical site included in the index text and different reference standards.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven studies were included in this review. All the studies were eligible for the collection of US findings and all definitions were summarized. US description of elementary lesions appeared heterogeneous among the studies. Regarding US accuracy, 13 articles entered in the meta-analysis. Considering each joint structure, the sensitivity ranged between 0.77 (0.63-0.87) and 0.34 (0.16-0.58) while the specificity varies between 1.00 (0.89-1.00) and 0.92 (0.16-1.00). Considering the reference standards used, the sensibility ranged between 0.34 (0.02-0.65) and 0.87 (0.76-0.99) while specificity ranged between 0.84 (0.52-1.00) and 1.00 (0.99-1.00).

CONCLUSION

US is potentially a useful tool for the diagnosis of CPPD but universally accepted definitions and further testing are necessary in order to assess the role of the technique in the diagnostic process.

Educational recommendations for the conduct, content and format of EULAR musculoskeletal ultrasound Teaching the Teachers Courses

OBJECTIVE

To produce educational guidelines for the conduct, content and format of theoretical and practical teaching at EULAR musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) Teaching the Teachers (TTT) Courses.

METHODS

A Delphi-based procedure with 24 recommendations covering five main areas (Duration and place of the course; Faculty members; Content of the course; Evaluation of the teaching skills; TTT competency assessment) was distributed among a group of experts involved in MSUS teaching, in addition to an advisory educational expert being present. Consensus for each recommendation was considered achieved when the percentage of agreement was >75%.

RESULTS

21 of 24 invited participants responded to the first Delphi questionnaire (88% response rate). All 21 participants also responded to the second round. Agreement on 19 statements was obtained after two rounds.

CONCLUSIONS

This project has led to the development of guidelines for the conduct, content and format of teaching at the EULAR MSUS TTT Courses that are organised annually, with the aim of training future teachers of EULAR MSUS Courses, EULAR Endorsed MSUS Courses, as well as national and local MSUS Courses. The presented work gives indications on how to homogenise the teaching at the MSUS TTT Courses, thus resolving current discrepancies in the field.

EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in the diagnosis and management of spondyloarthritis in clinical practice

A taskforce comprised of an expert group of 21 rheumatologists, radiologists and methodologists from 11 countries developed evidence-based recommendations on the use of imaging in the clinical management of both axial and peripheral spondyloarthritis (SpA). Twelve key questions on the role of imaging in SpA were generated using a process of discussion and consensus. Imaging modalities included conventional radiography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography, single photon emission CT, dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry and scintigraphy. Experts applied research evidence obtained from systematic literature reviews using MEDLINE and EMBASE to develop a set of 10 recommendations. The strength of recommendations (SOR) was assessed by taskforce members using a visual analogue scale. A total of 7550 references were identified in the search process, from which 158 studies were included in the systematic review. Ten recommendations were produced using research-based evidence and expert opinion encompassing the role of imaging in making a diagnosis of axial SpA or peripheral SpA, monitoring inflammation and damage, predicting outcome, response to treatment, and detecting spinal fractures and osteoporosis. The SOR for each recommendation was generally very high (range 8.9–9.5). These are the first recommendations which encompass the entire spectrum of SpA and evaluate the full role of all commonly used imaging modalities. We aimed to produce recommendations that are practical and valuable in daily practice for rheumatologists, radiologists and general practitioners.

Global ultrasound assessment of structural lesions in osteoarthritis: a reliability study by the OMERACT ultrasonography group on scoring cartilage and osteophytes in finger joints

OBJECTIVE

Ultrasonography is sensitive for the evaluation of cartilage pathology and degree of osteophytes in patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA). High consistency of assessments is essential, and the OMERACT (Outcome Measures in Rheumatology) ultrasonography group took the initiative to explore the reliability of a global ultrasonography score in patients with hand OA using semiquantitative ultrasonography score of cartilage and osteophytes in finger joints.

METHODS

Ten patients with hand OA were examined by 10 experienced sonographers over the course of two days. Semiquantitative scoring (0-3) was performed on osteophytes (carpo-metacarpal 1, metacarpo-phalangeal (MCP) 1-5, proximal interphalangeal 1-5 and distal interphalangeal 2-5 joints bilaterally with an ultrasonography atlas as reference) and cartilage pathology (MCP 2-5 bilaterally). A web-based exercise on static cartilage images was performed a month later. Reliability was assessed by use of weighted κ analyses.

RESULTS

Osteophyte scores were evenly distributed, and the intraobserver and interobserver reliabilities were substantial to excellent (κ range 0.68-0.89 and mean κ 0.65 (day 1) and 0.67 (day 2), respectively). Cartilage scores were unevenly distributed, and the intraobserver and interobserver reliability was fair to moderate (κ range 0.46-0.66 and mean κ 0.39 (day 1) and 0.33 (day 2), respectively). The web-based exercise showed acceptable agreement for cartilage being normal (κ 0.47) or with complete loss (κ 0.68), but poor for the intermediate scores (κ 0.22-0.30).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of the present semiquantitative ultrasonography scoring system for cartilage pathology in hand OA is not recommended (while normal or total loss of cartilage may be assessed). However, the OMERACT ultrasonography group will endorse the use of semiquantitative scoring of osteophytes with the ultrasonography atlas as reference.

Radiologists and rheumatologists on performing and reporting shoulder ultrasound: from disagreement to consensus

Shoulder pain is a common condition in the rheumatologist's practice, yet there are no guidelines on how to report shoulder ultrasound (US) examinations. The aim of this study was to compare scanning and reporting techniques performed by radiologists and rheumatologists and identify any discrepancies between the two. The participants in this study were five rheumatologists and two radiologists specialized in musculoskeletal US. The study was divided in 2 phases. In the first phase, each participant performed an US of 3 patients and reported the findings without knowing the patient diagnosis and the findings reported by the other operators. Other three investigators reported the US technique of each operator. Reports and images were subsequently compared to identify any discrepancies and reach consensus on a common approach. In the second phase, a US scan was performed on a fourth patient in a plenary session to assess feasibility and efficacy of the common approach The US scanning technique was similar for all operators. The differences in reporting emerged in the description of the rotator cuff disease. Radiologists provided a detailed description of lesions (measurements along 2 axis and scoring of lesions), whereas rheumatologists described carefully the inflammatory changes. The experts concluded that lesions should be measured along 2 axes and the grade of degeneration and the age of the lesion should be reported. Another difference emerged in the description of the irregularities of the bone surface. The experts concluded that the term erosion should be used only when an inflammatory joint disease is suspected. This study led to the clarification of some inconsistencies in US reporting, and represented an interesting collaborative experience between radiologists and rheumatologists.

Defining enthesitis in spondyloarthritis by ultrasound: results of a Delphi process and of a reliability reading exercise

OBJECTIVE

To standardize ultrasound (US) in enthesitis.

METHODS

An initial Delphi exercise was undertaken to define US-detected enthesitis and its core components. These definitions were subsequently tested on static images taken from spondyloarthritis patients in order to evaluate their reliability.

RESULTS

Excellent agreement (>80%) was obtained for including hypoechogenicity, increased thickness of the tendon insertion, calcifications, enthesophytes, erosions, and Doppler activity as core elementary lesions of US-detected enthesitis. US definitions were subsequently obtained for each elementary component. On static images, the intraobserver reliability showed a high degree of variability for the detection of elementary lesions, with kappa coefficients ranging from 0.13-1. The interobserver kappa values were variable, with the lowest kappa coefficient for enthesophytes (0.24) and the highest coefficient for Doppler activity at the enthesis (0.63).

CONCLUSION

This is the first consensus-based US definition of enthesitis and its elementary components and the first step performed to ensure a higher degree of homogeneity and comparability of results between studies and in daily clinical work.

EFSUMB minimum training requirements for rheumatologists performing musculoskeletal ultrasound

In order to optimize and standardize musculoskeletal ultrasonography education for rheumatologists, there is a need for competency assessments addressing the required training and practical and theoretical skills. This paper describes how these competency assessments for rheumatologists were developed and what they contain.