Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Development and validation of a new ultrasound score (SONAR-7) for synovitis in psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis
Authors' conclusion
The SONAR-7 score represents a fast and effective US-based tool for the evaluation of inflammatory and structural joint involvement in patients with PsA and axSpA, with high specificity and meaningful associations with clinical and quality-of-life outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with PsA and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) from six Swiss hospitals and healthy controls; clinical joint examination and ultrasound (US) of 22 joints for greyscale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) synovitis (OMERACT definitions)
- Participants
- 121 patients
- Comparison
- PsA and axSpA vs healthy controls
- PsAn = 41
- axSpAn = 39
- Healthy controls (HC)n = 41reference
- Outcome
- Diagnostic performance of the SONAR-7 US synovitis score (GS and PD lesions across 14 joints)
Methodological detailsmulticentre, score development and validation
- Multicentre
- Score development and validation
Performance
As reported in the abstract
Diagnostic performance of SONAR-7 (PsA and axSpA vs HC)
- Comparable to existing US scores
Further findings
Correlation of SONAR-7 inflammatory components with clinical measures
- Correlation with SJC-28
- 0.37
- Correlation with DAPSA
- 0.33
- Correlation with US enthesitis
- 0.48
New bone formation in the same joints, association with clinical indices
- Association with HAQ
- P = 0.035
- Association with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index
- P = 0.016
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Development and validation of a new ultrasound score (SONAR-7) for synovitis in psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis. RMD Open. Published 29 April 2026. doi:10.
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