Mihoko Henmi

Change of synovial vascularity in a single finger joint assessed by power doppler sonography correlated with radiographic change in rheumatoid arthritis: comparative study of a novel quantitative score with a semiquantitative score.

To investigate the relationship between synovial vascularity assessed by quantitative power Doppler sonography (PDS) and progression of structural bone damage in a single finger joint in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Radiographic prognosis of finger joint damage predicted by early alteration in synovial vascularity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Potential utility of power doppler sonography in clinical practice.

To investigate the relationship between synovial vascularity and progression of structural bone damage in each finger joint in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to demonstrate synovial vascularity as a potential therapeutic marker.

Power Doppler ultrasound of rheumatoid synovitis: quantification of vascular signal and analysis of interobserver variability

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess interobserver uncertainties in power Doppler (PD) examination of the fingers of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), by separating the source of the discrepancy into (1) acquisition of the images and (2) criteria for assessment of the images.Materials and methodsTwenty patients who had been diagnosed with RA were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound examinations were performed by one inexperienced and two experienced sonographers. Interobserver variation was measured using a conventional semiquantitative image grading scale. Interobserver variation of the quantitative PD (QPD) index (the summation of the colored pixels in a region of interest) was also assessed.ResultsThe agreement was higher between the two experienced sonographers (kappa value of 0.8) than between experienced and inexperienced sonographers (kappa value, 0.6–0.7) in the semiquantitative image grading scale. Results suggest that the difference in the assessment on the image grading scale was due more to the difference in the acquisition of the images than to variations in the grading criteria between sonographers. An excellent relationship was noted between the image grading scale and the QPD index for Doppler signal with a Spearman’s coefficient of rank correlation of 0.83 (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsInterobserver discrepancies in the image grading and QPD index methods were due more to the difference in the acquisition of the image than to the grading criteria used. The QPD index seems to be as reliable as the image grading scale with reasonable interobserver agreement between experienced sonographers.

Positive synovial vascularity in patients with low disease activity indicates smouldering inflammation leading to joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis: time-integrated joint inflammation estimated by synovial vascularity in each finger joint

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between synovial vascularity and joint damage progression in each finger joint of patients with RA under low disease activity during treatment with biologic agents. METHODS We studied 310 MCP and 310 PIP joints of 31 patients with active RA who were administered adalimumab (ADA) or tocilizumab (TCZ). Patients were examined with clinical and laboratory assessments. Power Doppler sonography was performed at baseline and at weeks 8, 20 and 40. Synovial vascularity was evaluated according to quantitative measurement. Hand and foot radiography was performed at baseline and at week 50. RESULTS Composite scores of the DAS with 28 joints and the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) were significantly decreased from baseline to week 8, being sustained at a low level by biologic agents during the observational period. MCP and PIP joints with positive synovial vascularity after week 8 showed more subsequent joint damage progression than joints without synovial vascularity throughout the follow-up. The changes in radiographic progression in these joints were independent of the sum of synovial vascularity from baseline to week 40 or the occasional occurrence of positive synovial vascularity. CONCLUSION Smouldering inflammation reflected by positive synovial vascularity under low disease activity was linked to joint damage. The damage progressed irrespective of the severity of positive synovial vascularity. Even with a favourable overall therapeutic response, monitoring of synovial vascularity has the potential to provide useful joint information to tailor treatment strategies. Trial registration. University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry; http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/; UMIN000004476.

Structural deterioration of finger joints with ultrasonographic synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients with clinical low disease activity

OBJECTIVE In this study we investigated the relationship between synovial vascularity (SV) and structural alteration of finger joints in patients with RA and long-term sustained clinical low disease activity (CLDA). METHODS RA patients with CLDA of >2 years (minimum 1 year of CLDA for study entry plus 1 year of observation) were analysed. Quantitative SV values were sequentially measured in each finger joint using power Doppler ultrasonography (0, 8, 20 and 52 weeks). Radiological progression of local finger joints was evaluated according to the Genant-modified Sharp score (0-52 weeks). RESULTS Of the 25 patients enrolled, 15 patients were finally analysed after excluding 10 patients who failed to maintain CLDA during the observational period. Changes in radiological progression of MCP and PIP joints with positive SV were significantly greater than those in joints with negative SV. Joint space narrowing (JSN) was strongly related to structural alteration of finger joints. In joints with positive SV, changes in structural alteration did not relate to total SV values, which reflect total exposure to inflammation in an observational period. CONCLUSION Even in patients with a long period of CLDA, finger joints with positive SV showed structural alteration, especially in the progression of JSN. TRIAL REGISTRATION University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry, http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/, UMIN000007305.

Ultrasound Assessment of Synovial Pathologic Features in Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Comprehensive Multiplane Images of the Second Metacarpophalangeal Joint: Identification of the Components That Are Reliable and Influential on the Global Assessment of the Whole Joint

The aim of this pilot study was to provide groundwork that could be utilized to optimize the global ultrasound (US) assessment of the whole joint for synovial pathologic features in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Analysis of the factors which influence the measurement of synovial power Doppler signals with semi-quantitative and quantitative measures - a pilot multicenter exercise in Japan.

Abstract Objectives. This pilot multicenter exercise aimed to evaluate the inter-observer reproducibility of synovial power Doppler (PD) signals in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to determine the factors influencing the measurements. Methods. Two representative RA patients were assessed by four independent experienced sonographers. The influence of machine difference, deterioration of the transducer and pulse repetition frequency (PRF) on the assessment of synovial PD signals was investigated. Results. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for the scanner–reader reproducibility of semi-quantitative PD score was high (0.867). ICC for the inter-scanner reproducibility of synovial PD pixel count was higher than that of semi-quantitative PD score. The assessment of PD signals significantly differed between two machines with quantitative measurements but did not with semi-quantitative score. The assessment of PD signals with a deteriorated transducer was much less sensitive than that with an intact one. The semi-quantitative scores for PD signals were comparable between three different PRFs (500/800/1,300 Hz), whereas the pixel count was significantly lower with the highest one in the knee joint. Conclusions. Measurement of PD signal can be substantially affected by deteriorated quality of the transducer, whereas the differences are relatively modest between machines with similar specifications and also between PRF settings within a low range.

Consensus-based identification of factors related to false-positives in ultrasound scanning of synovitis and tenosynovitis.

Abstract Introduction: We aimed to identify causes of false-positives in ultrasound scanning of synovial/tenosynovial/bursal inflammation and provide corresponding imaging examples. Methods: We first performed systematic literature review to identify previously reported causes of false-positives. We next determined causes of false-positives and corresponding example images for educational material through Delphi exercises and discussion by 15 experts who were an instructor and/or a lecturer in the 2013 advanced course for musculoskeletal ultrasound organized by Japan College of Rheumatology Committee for the Standardization of Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography. Results: Systematic literature review identified 11 articles relevant to sonographic false-positives of synovial/tenosynovial inflammation. Based on these studies, 21 candidate causes of false-positives were identified in the consensus meeting. Of these items, 11 achieved a predefined consensus (≥ 80%) in Delphi exercise and were classified as follows: (I) Gray-scale assessment [(A) non-specific synovial findings and (B) normal anatomical structures which can mimic synovial lesions due to either their low echogenicity or anisotropy]; (II) Doppler assessment [(A) Intra-articular normal vessels and (B) reverberation)]. Twenty-four corresponding examples with 49 still and 23 video images also achieved consensus. Conclusions: Our study provides a set of representative images that can help sonographers to understand false-positives in ultrasound scanning of synovitis and tenosynovitis.

Active synovitis in the presence of osteitis predicts residual synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with a clinical response to treatment

To clarify the relationship between active synovitis/osteitis and subsequent residual synovitis (R‐synovitis) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Ultrasound Assessment of Synovial Pathologic Features in Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Comprehensive Multiplane Images of the Second Metacarpophalangeal Joint: Identification of the Components That Are Reliable and Influential on the Global Assessment of the: Multiplane US Imaging of Synovial Pathologic Features in RA

The aim of this pilot study was to provide groundwork that could be utilized to optimize the global ultrasound (US) assessment of the whole joint for synovial pathologic features in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).