Preliminary study of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography on the efficacy of knee synovial lesions in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) on the treatment of knee synovial lesions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods The results of routine ultrasonography (US) and CEUS were observed in 37 patients with RA. Among them 26 knees were underwent review after treatment. The results before and after treatment were compared. Results Routine US showed that the synovial thickness of patella, medial and lateral condylar and the depth of suprapatellar bursa effusion in 37 knee joints were (0.47±0.26)cm, (0.31±0.15)cm, (0.36±0.21)cm and (0.72±0.42)cm before treatment, and (0.36±0.16)cm, (0.28±0.17)cm, (0.30±0.19)cm and (0.41±0.19)cm in 26 knee joints after treatment, respectively, the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). The synovial blood flow classification of patella, medial and the lateral condyle in the 26 knee joints had difference between before and after treatment (P<0.05). CEUS showed that the peak intensity decreased, the area under the curve reduced, the time from peak to one half decreased, the wash in slope decreased and the time to peak prolonged in synovial after treatment, the differences of the parameters between before and after treatment were statistically significant(P<0.05). The area of synovial had some influence on the CEUS parameters and could improve the reliability of the evaluation to CEUS for treatment. Conclusions CEUS is an objective method to evaluate the efficacy of RA, which provides a reliable basis for clinical treatment of RA. Key words: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; Arthritis, rheumatoid; Synovial membrane