Identifying Inflammation in Knee Osteoarthritis: Relationship of Synovial Fluid White Blood Cell Count to Effusion‐Synovitis on Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors' conclusion
The sensitivity and specificity of synovial fluid WBC in identifying effusion-synovitis on MRI were limited.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) at an academic center with knee aspiration, synovial fluid WBC and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 12 months; mean age 63 ± 12 years, 69% female
- Participants
- 75 patients
- Comparison
- Synovial fluid WBC vs MRI effusion-synovitis as gold standard
- Outcome
- Sensitivity and specificity of synovial fluid WBC for MRI effusion-synovitis (medium/large)
Methodological detailsretrospective record review, single academic centre, MRI effusion-synovitis (MRI OA Knee Score (MOAKS)) as gold standard, Youden index cut point
- Retrospective record review
- Single academic centre
- MRI effusion-synovitis (MOAKS) as gold standard
- Youden index cut point
Performance
As reported in the abstract
Synovial fluid WBC by MRI effusion-synovitis grade; diagnostic performance vs MRI effusion-synovitis (medium/large)
Medium/large
335
median · IQR 312
None/small
194
median · IQR 272
- Optimal cut point of synovial fluid WBC (Youden index)
- 242
- Sensitivity at cut point 242
- 71% (95% CI 56-83%)
- Specificity at cut point 242
- 63% (95% CI 41-81%)
Further findings
Median
| Outcome | Medium/large effusion-synovitis | None/small effusion-synovitis |
|---|---|---|
| Synovial fluid WBC by effusion-synovitis grade | 335 (IQR 312) | 194 (IQR 272) |
Original publication
Identifying Inflammation in Knee Osteoarthritis: Relationship of Synovial Fluid White Blood Cell Count to Effusion‐Synovitis on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 25 January 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →