Detection of subclinical synovial hypertrophy by musculoskeletal gray-scale/ power Doppler ultrasonography in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

Laboratory investigations are invasive methods. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a small field of view. Ultrasound can be performed at multiple parts of the body. The objective of the study was to find out subclinical synovial hypertrophy in systemic lupus erythematosus patients using gray-scale/power Doppler ultrasonography.

METHODS

A total of 247 systemic lupus erythematosus (without musculoskeletal involvement) patients from 21 February 2017 to 28 October 2018 were included in the cross-sectional study. Patients were subjected to physical examinations, laboratory tests, and gray-scale/power Doppler ultrasonography examinations. Synovial hypertrophy was confirmed if it was present in at least 4 out of 100 of the examined location sites. MRI examinations were performed for confirmation purposes. Spearman correlation was performed between imaging and laboratory investigations at the 99% confidence level.

RESULTS

No correlation was observed for results of synovial hypertrophy between physical examinations/laboratory tests and gray-scale/power Doppler ultrasonography examinations except erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.354). Cost of laboratory tests (315.47 ± 19.15 ¥/person) for subclinical synovial hypertrophy detection was higher than that of gray-scale/power Doppler ultrasonography examinations (135.47 ± 8.17 ¥/person, P <0.0001, q = 230.87). Results of gray-scale/power Doppler ultrasonography have a correlation with results of MRI (r = 0.34).

CONCLUSION

Only perform gray-scale/power Doppler ultrasonography examinations for regular maintenance of rheumatologic disease in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.