Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Entheseal Doppler signals in ultrasound are associated with vasodilator drugs and age in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
Authors' conclusion
The prevalence of asymptomatic entheseal ultrasound Doppler findings was overall high. The use of vasodilator drugs and higher age increased the Doppler scores. No association between disease activity and Doppler scores was found in patients with long-standing disease.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with long-standing radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) fulfilling the modified New York criteria for AS (mean age 60 years; symptom duration 34 years; males 57%; HLA-B27 86%)1,692 entheses examined by US
- Participants
- 141 patients
- Outcome
- Prevalence and clinical significance of Doppler signals indicative of inflammation in peripheral entheses
Methodological detailsmultivariable linear regression, Doppler signals graded 0 to 3 using colour Doppler US and Smooth Microvascular Imaging
- Multivariable linear regression
- Doppler signals graded 0 to 3 using colour Doppler US and Smooth Microvascular Imaging
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence of entheseal US findings
- Patients with ≥ 1 active US enthesitis (Doppler signals with hypoechoic tissue)
- 21.3%
- Active US enthesitis tender on palpation
- 4.3%
- Patients with isolated Doppler signals
- 89.4-97.1%
- Highest mean Doppler grade: triceps entheses
- 0.88
- Lowest mean Doppler grade: Achilles tendons
- 0.28
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Factors associated with total Doppler scores (multivariable linear regression, B)
| B (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 0.01 (0.00–0.01) | P = 0.004 |
| Daily NSAIDs | 0.15 (0.00–0.30) | P = 0.048 |
| Vasodilator drugs | 0.16 (0.01–0.32) | P = 0.041 |
- AS disease activity score not associated with total Doppler scores
Original publication
Entheseal Doppler signals in ultrasound are associated with vasodilator drugs and age in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 14 July 2025. doi:10.
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