An attempt to improve the clinical scale for assessment of haemophilic arthropathy in children

Abstract

Of the methods used to evaluate haemophilic arthropathy, clinical joint score can only detect advanced and not minor changes, which usually occur in younger patients. In addition, the currently used clinical scores are poorly correlated with the MRI and X-rays scales. In an attempt to address these shortcomings, a modification of Stockholm clinical scale was designed in which elements of clinical information were included. This new scale was applied in 165 joints of 40 patients with haemophilia A and B and the results were statistically analyzed for its capacity to detect early joints alterations. Furthermore, the adjusted score was compared with Pettersson's radiological score and Denver's MRI score, which can detect early signs of arthropathy. The adjusted scale (a) revealed the earliest abnormalities of haemophilic arthropathy and its correlation with the Pettersson and Denver scores is better than those of Stockholm's scale, (b) provided prediction of the Denver score and (c) was simple and safe to be performed and it could easily be repeated.