Caio C. Medeiros

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis of the knee: evaluation with contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasound

Abstract.Background. Contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasonography is a non-radiation-bearing tool that can be of value for assessment of inflammatory and vascular synovial changes in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Objectives. To evaluate the effect of contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasound (US) in the evaluation of synovial changes in the knees of children with JRA. Materials and methods. Sagittal color Doppler sonograms of 31 knees in 22 patients with JRA and of 10 knees in 5 control subjects were obtained before (at baseline) and after (at peak contrast phase) intravenous injection of SHU 508. Images were assessed for overall mean pixel intensity within the synovial tissue and for peak enhancement ratios {[(mean pixel intensity values at maximum contrast enhancement–unenhanced mean pixel intensity values)/unenhanced mean pixel intensity values] × 100}. The joints were classified into three groups by clinical/laboratory criteria: group A (active disease in the knee), n = 9; group B (quiescent disease with serum chemistry levels of active disease), n = 12 and group C (remission disease), n = 10. Results. Mean color pixel intensity values were markedly increased by the use of US contrast agents in groups A (P = 0.004) and B (P = 0.0001), did not reach statistical significance in group C (P = 0.06) and remained essentially unchanged in the control group (P = 0.25). Enhancement ratios for the three groups of JRA patients were not different (P = 0.38) (mean ± SD, 720 % ± 402 for group A, 731 % ± 703 for group B and 314 % ± 263 for group C). Conclusion. Contrast-enhanced color Doppler imaging holds promise for the detection of active synovial inflammatory disease in subclinical cases of JRA, thereby allowing earlier treatment and improved clinical outcome.

Ecocardiografia de contraste miocárdico em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana suspeita ou conhecida: comparação com a cintilografia miocárdica com radioisótopos

OBJECTIVE To compare myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) using PESDA and adenosine in bolus (ADN) with myocardial nuclear scintigraphy (NS) in patients (pts) undergoing routine investigation with a high probability of having coronary artery disease. METHODS This study comprised 125 pts (85 men) with 58.4 +/- 10.6 years, who underwent MCE and NS within 4 weeks. MCE was performed with PESDA in a continuous infusion at rest and after administration of an adenosine bolus. The LV walls was divided into 3 territories related to the coronary arteries, in a total of 375 territories. MCE was normal when an increase in contrast intensity occurred after ADN. The reduction in contrast intensity at rest or after ADN was defined as an abnormal MCE result. NS was performed according to classical protocols. When compared per patient, both examinations were considered concordant when they were normal or abnormal, independent of its location. The comparison by territory was considered concordant when perfusion defects existed or not in the same territory. The chi-square test was used to determine the significance of concordance. RESULTS In 106/125 pts, MCE and NS were concordant (84.8% - P < 0.001). Concordance occurred in 342/375 territories (91.2% - P < 0.001). For the LAD territory, concordance was 87.2%; for the RCA, 93.6%; and for the CX, 92.8% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION An excellent concordance exists between MCE and NS in assessing pts for coronary artery disease; therefore, MCE may represent a good alternative for assessing myocardial perfusion.