Musculoskeletal ultrasound abnormalities in asymptomatic hyperuricemic patients: Association with cardiovascular risk factors

Abstract

To assess the relation between musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) abnormalities and cardiovascular risk factors in asymptomatic and symptomatic hyperuricemic patients. The study included 66 hyperuricemic patients. 33 were asymptomatic and 33 were symptomatic. The socio-demographic features, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure measurement and musculoskeletal examination were recorded. Serum uric acid (SUA), serum creatinine (s.Cr.), total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides (TG) were measured and estimated glomerular filtration rate (e GFR) was calculated using chronic kidney disease-epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI). Cardiovascular risk was calculated using Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation of the European Society of Cardiology (SCORE/ESC) and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease of American College of Cardiology (ASCVD/ACC). MSUS of the knees, ankles and 1st metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPs) was performed and specific gout signs (aggregates, double contour and tophi) were assessed. There was no association between MSUS abnormalities and either individual or overall cardiovascular risk factors except the negative correlation between the age and the high density lipoprotein (HDL) level and the positivity of the patients (presence of at least one of the specific gout sign "aggregates, double contour or tophi" in at least one out of the six assessed joints "both knees, ankles and 1st MTPs" among the symptomatic group. The association between MSUS abnormalities and cardiovascular risk factors in the hyperuricemic patients is not yet clear and further studies are needed to introduce it as a screening modality for these patients.