Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Pain mechanisms in PsA: differentiating inflammation-related pain in Achilles enthesitis using US and functional MRI
Authors' conclusion
US-detected entheseal inflammation may be associated with distinct central pain-processing features, supporting the role of US as a useful tool for identifying underlying inflammatory mechanisms in PsA-related pain.
Study context
- Population
- PsA patients undergoing clinical evaluation, US of the Achilles tendon and functional MRI brain imaging
- Participants
- 16 patients
- Comparison
- PsA with clinical Achilles enthesitis and active US findings vs clinical enthesitis with negative US (primary) and vs no enthesitis (secondary)
- Outcome
- Distinct functional MRI brain activation patterns, Group 1 vs Group 2
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Brain activation on functional MRI, Group 1 vs Group 2
- Middle frontal gyrus T-score (P-value: 0.009)
- 6.92
- Inferior triangularis T-score (P-value: 0.009)
- 4.53
- Inferior parietal lobule triangularis T-score (P-value: 0.015)
- 5.94
- Supramarginal gyrus T-score (P-value: 0.015)
- 5.28
- Superior medial FG T-score (P-value: 0.022)
- 4.88
Further findings
Brain activation on functional MRI, Group 1 vs Group 3 (pain-positive vs pain-negative)
- Group 1 had more activity than Group 3 in the supramarginal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule
Original publication
Pain mechanisms in PsA: differentiating inflammation-related pain in Achilles enthesitis using US and functional MRI. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 13 February 2026. doi:10.
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