Unilateral Versus Bilateral Ultrasound of the Hands in Patients With Clinically Suspect Arthralgia: What Is the Difference? A Longitudinal Study
Authors' conclusion
US-detected subclinical (teno)synovitis in patients with CSA is partly bilateral and partly unilateral. Predictive values for IA development are comparable.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA), two cohorts
- Participants
- 320 patients2 cohorts
- Exposure
- Ultrasound (US) of 1 hand vs US of both hands for predicting inflammatory arthritis (IA) development
- Outcome
- Association between US positivity (subclinical synovitis/tenosynovitis: grayscale ≥ 2 and/or power Doppler ≥ 1) and IA development
Methodological detailstwo cohorts, bilateral US
- Two cohorts
- Bilateral US
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
IA development by US positivity, cohort 1
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Both handsUS-positivevs US-negative, both hands
2.8(1.3–6.0)
Dominant handUS-positivevs US-negative, dominant hand
2.6(1.3–5.3)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
US-detected subclinical (teno)synovitis distribution, cohort 1
- Bilateral
- 23%
- Dominant hand only
- 20%
- Nondominant hand only
- 10%
US-detected subclinical (teno)synovitis distribution, cohort 2
- Bilateral
- 10%
- Dominant hand only
- 12%
- Nondominant hand only
- 8%
Original publication
Unilateral Versus Bilateral Ultrasound of the Hands in Patients With Clinically Suspect Arthralgia: What Is the Difference? A Longitudinal Study. J Rheumatol. Published 15 February 2026. doi:10.
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