Microvascular imaging is superior to power doppler in synovitis vascular flow detection in rheumatoid arthritis using the OMERACT-EULAR scoring system
Authors' conclusion
In RA patients, our study demonstrates that SMI has a higher sensitivity for detecting synovial vascular flow than PD across all grades.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fulfilling EULAR-ACR classification criteria with ultrasonographic synovitis in at least one joint; Metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and wrist joints (22 per patient)1,276 joints scanned
- Participants
- 58 patients
- Exposure
- Superb Microvascular Imaging (SMI) vs Power Doppler (PD) for synovitis vascular flow detection in hand and wrist joints
- Outcome
- Detection of intra-articular vascularization in GS grade ≥ 1 joints
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients, blinded interrater agreement exercise, Interrater agreement between two ultrasonographers: squared-weighted κ = 0.729 (substantial)
- Consecutive patients
- Blinded interrater agreement exercise
- Interrater agreement between two ultrasonographers: squared-weighted κ = 0.729 (substantial)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Intra-articular vascularization detected in GS grade ≥ 1 joints (n=227)
P < 0.001, Chi-square test
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | χ² (9) | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Vascular flow grading, SMI vs PDCramer's V = 0.52 (large effect size) | 1020.35 | P = 0.001 |
| Adapted (GS + SMI) vs original (GS + PD) EULAR-OMERACT scoreCramér's V = 0.86 (large effect size) | 2076.09 | P = 0.001 |
- Vascular flow grading, SMI vs PD — PD grade 0 increased to SMI grade ≥ 1 (joints)
- 79 (57.7%)
- Vascular flow grading, SMI vs PD — PD grade 1 increased to SMI grade ≥ 2 (joints)
- 29 (74.4%)
- Vascular flow grading, SMI vs PD — PD grade 2 increased to SMI grade 3 (joints)
- 9 (52.9%)
Vascular flow grading, SMI vs PD
- No joint had higher PD grade than corresponding SMI grade
Adapted (grey-scale (GS) + SMI) vs original (GS + PD) EULAR-OMERACT score
- No joint had a lower adapted EULAR-OMERACT score compared to the original
Original publication
Microvascular imaging is superior to power doppler in synovitis vascular flow detection in rheumatoid arthritis using the OMERACT-EULAR scoring system. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 10 January 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →