Validity of an ultrasonographic joint-specific scoring system in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a cross-sectional study comparing ultrasound findings of synovitis with whole-body magnetic resonance imaging and clinical assessment
Authors' conclusion
Our findings suggest that ultrasound is a valid instrument to detect synovitis, and that ultrasound synovitis sum scores can reflect disease activity and may be an outcome measure in JIA.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with active juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
- Participants
- 27 patients
- Exposure
- Ultrasound synovitis vs whole-body MRI and clinical assessment
- Outcome
- Validity of ultrasound synovitis scoring: correlation of ultrasound synovitis sum scores with whole-body MRI, clinical arthritis sum scores and JADAS71 (Spearman rs); joint-level sensitivity/specificity
Methodological detailsultrasound rheumatologist blinded to clinical findings, semiquantitative joint-specific scoring system
- Ultrasound rheumatologist blinded to clinical findings
- Semiquantitative joint-specific scoring system
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Patient-level correlation of ultrasound synovitis sum scores
Spearman rs (effusion/synovial thickening sum scores)
0.74
P < 0.01
Ultrasound vs Whole-body MRI · strong correlation
Spearman rs with Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (JADAS71)
0.71
P < 0.01
Ultrasound · strong correlation
Spearman rs (clinical arthritis sum scores)
0.57
P < 0.01
Ultrasound vs Clinical joint examination · moderate correlation
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Joint-level detection of synovitis by ultrasound
- 0.57 · Sensitivity vs whole-body MRI · Specificity vs whole-body MRI 0.96 · Sensitivity vs clinical joint examination 0.55 · Specificity vs clinical joint examination 0.96
Original publication
Validity of an ultrasonographic joint-specific scoring system in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a cross-sectional study comparing ultrasound findings of synovitis with whole-body magnetic resonance imaging and clinical assessment. RMD Open. Published 1 March 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →