Ultrasonographic Measurement of the Femoral Cartilage Thickness in Patients with Behçet's Disease.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate femoral cartilage thickness in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) by using ultrasonography.

METHODS

Thirty-one patients with BD (18 M, 13 F; mean age: 32.87 ± 8.5 years) and 31 age-, gender- and body mass index-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. Demographic features and medications of the patients were recorded. The femoral cartilage thicknesses of both knees were measured with a 7-12 MHz linear probe while subjects' knees were held in maximum flexion. Three mid-point measurements were taken from both knees: lateral femoral condyle (LFC), intercondylar area (ICA) and medial femoral condyle (MFC).

RESULTS

Cartilage measurements of BD patients were significantly thinner at the ICA (p = 0.009) and LFC (p = 0.007) on the left knee, and at the MFC on both sides (both p < 0.05). Left knee cartilage thickness value at MFC (p = 0.005) was decreased in BD patients with arthritis compared to the healthy control group.

CONCLUSION

These preliminary findings of decreased femoral cartilage thickness in BD patients with arthritis should be complemented with future studies. However, the possibility of early knee joint degeneration and eventual osteoarthritis in BD should also be kept in mind.