Association of Intraerosive Power Doppler Signals Detected by Musculoskeletal Ultrasound With 1-Year Radiographic Progression in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors' conclusion
In treatment-naïve patients with RA, the presence of intraerosive PD signals on MSUS was associated with radiographic progression at 1 year after treatment initiation.
Study context
- Population
- Treatment-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presenting to the authors' hospital, January 2018–December 2023; median symptom onset to treatment 3.6 months; all started csDMARDs, treat-to-target
- Participants
- 265 patients
- Exposure
- Intraerosive PD signals present vs absent on musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS)
- Outcome
- Radiographic progression of hands and wrists (maintained radiographic remission: Δhand/wrist modified total Sharp score (mTSS) ≤ 0.5/year)
- Follow-up
- 1 year after treatment initiation
Methodological detailsconsecutive enrolment, single-centre, multivariable logistic regression, Data analysed retrospectively, MSUS of 22 joints in hands and wrists, clinical indices and radiographs at baseline and 1 year
- Consecutive enrolment
- Single-centre
- Multivariable logistic regression
- Data analysed retrospectively
- MSUS of 22 joints in hands and wrists, clinical indices and radiographs at baseline and 1 year
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Maintained radiographic remission of hands and wrists (Δhand/wrist mTSS ≤ 0.5/year): independent factors (multivariable logistic regression)
- Presence of PD signals penetrating into bone erosions: the only independent factor associated with lower odds of maintained structural remission, OR
- 0.20
- 95% CI
- 0.09-0.46
- P
- P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Treatment with b/tsDMARD · 1 year
- Received biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- 110 patients (41.5%)
Original publication
Association of Intraerosive Power Doppler Signals Detected by Musculoskeletal Ultrasound With 1-Year Radiographic Progression in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Rheumatol. Published 15 July 2026. doi:10.
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