The value of high frequency ultrasound screening for asymptomatic hyperuricemia in patients with joint diseases

Abstract

Objective To explore the value of high frequency color Doppler ultrasound for the early diagnosis of asymptomatic hyperuricemia in patients with joint disease. Methods Blood pressure, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride and blood glucose were measured in 44 asymptomatic individual with hyperuricemia (the AH group) and 52 healthy persons (the control group), and the joints of the first metatarsal-phalangeal, ankles, knees, wrists, elbows and the first metacarpophalangeal joints in the two groups were examinedby high frequency and color Doppler ultrasound. T test, Chi-square test, and Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results ① The incidence rate of hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia in theAH group [43.2% (19/44), 22.7% (10/44), 13.6% (6/44)] was significantly higher than the control group (χ2=27.995, 13.129, 7.564; P 0.05). Conclusion Hyperuricemia is related to hypertension, diabetes and high blood lipids. There are some similar specific sonographic findings of gouty arthritis in the asymptomatic individuals with hyperuricemia. Therefore, these findings support that frequent ultrasound examination is a useful tool for the early diagnosis of asymptomatic hyperuricemia with joint disease, especially the screening of the first meta-tarso-phalangeal joint, ankle joint and knee joint. Key words: Hyperuricemia; Ultrasonography, Doppler, color; Arthritis