Synovial Disease Research Articles

Towards a role of ultrasound in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

US is a powerful tool for the assessment of joint synovitis in children with JIA and has been shown to be more accurate than clinical examination in detecting synovial disease. Recent studies have documented the presence of US-detected synovial pathology in children with JIA in clinical remission. US assessment enables the differentiation of joint synovitis from tenosynovitis, may help detect enthesitis and is valuable for capturing cartilage damage and early bone erosions. Guidance to local injection therapy represents an important application of US in routine care. Although US has a great potential for diffusion among paediatric rheumatologists, several issues need to be addressed. In particular, a thorough knowledge of US anatomy of joints in growing children is necessary to interpret US findings in JIA patients. The present review examines the potential role of US in the assessment of joint disease in children with JIA.

Use of amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct test (Gen-probe Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) in the diagnosis of tubercular synovitis and early arthritis of knee joint

Background:The diagnosis of knee joint tuberculosis, especially in early stages of synovial disease, has more often been based on clinicoradiological suspicion, with no single test claiming to be a dependable rapid diagnostic test with high sensitivity and specificity. Nuclear amplification tests in vogue like the polymerase chain reaction have shown variable sensitivity and false positivity rates in various studies. We evaluated the role of Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Test (AMTDT) or Genprobe in the diagnosis of knee joint tuberculosis in early, especially, early synovitis and arthritis cases.Patients and Methods:Thirty two patients of suspected knee joint tuberculosis were subjected to diagnostic arthroscopy during the study period. The synovial fluid and tissue were subjected to mycobacterial culture, histopathology, and AMTDT. A comparative analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of this new test with culture and histopathology was done and the time taken for reporting was calculated for each test.Results:Out of 32 tissue samples, 8 were found to be positive with mycobacterial culture [Lowenstein Jensen (LJ)/Bactec], 11 were positive with histopathology, and 5 were found to positive with AMTDT. The sensitivity of AMTDT was found to be 62.5% and specificity was 100% with a P value of 0.083. The results were obtained earliest with AMTDT with a mean reporting time of 1.2 days, while the results of histopathology were obtained in a mean time of 6.8 days, BacT alert in 22.5 days, and conventional LJ medium culture results in 48.6 days.Conclusion:AMTDT or Genprobe is a rapid diagnostic test for early diagnosis of tubercular arthritis, but has low sensitivity in knee joint tuberculosis. Nuclear amplification tests are still far from being a single promising alternative to conventional tests in cases of joint tuberculosis. Routine use of arthroscopic biopsies in all suspected cases is helpful in the early diagnosis of knee joint tuberculosis.

Ultrasound-detected synovial abnormalities are frequent in clinically inactive juvenile idiopathic arthritis, but do not predict a flare of synovitis

ObjectivesTo investigate whether children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in clinical remission have subclinical synovial disease on ultrasound, and whether ultrasound abnormalities predict an early flare of synovitis.MethodsThirty-nine consecutive children...

Paper 16: Arthroscopic Management of Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis in the Hip

This is the first clinical case series to report on the role of primary synovectomy for a synovial-based disorder in the hip. Arthroscopy has diagnostic and therapeutic utility, producing acceptable results with minimal morbidity. Synovial disease is a well-recognized indication for arthroscopy, and arthroscopic surgery of the hip is a well-accepted technique, yet there are few publications on arthroscopic management of synovial disease in the hip. The purpose of this study is to report the results of prospectively collected data on arthroscopic synovectomy for pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) in the hip. All patients undergoing hip arthroscopy are prospectively assessed with a modified Harris hip score preop and postop at 3, 12, 24, 60 and 120 months. Fourteen patients were identified with histologically confirmed PVNS and minimum one-year follow-up. This cohort represents the substance of this report. There was 100% follow-up at an average of 32 months (range 12-60 months.) All patients improved with an average of 28 points (preop 60; postop 88) which was statistically significant (p<0.001). There were no complications. The average age was 27 years (range 14-46 years) with nine females and four males. The disease pattern was nodular in seven cases, diffuse in five and combined in two. Ten cases had other associated intraarticular pathology including labral tears (7), chondral damage (7), loose fragments (3), impingement (3) and disrupted ligamentum teres (1). Although synovial disease is mentioned as an indication for hip arthroscopy, the only published series are for loose body removal associated with synovial chondromatosis. This is the first clinical case series to report on the role of primary synovectomy for a synovial-based disorder in the hip. Arthroscopy has diagnostic and therapeutic utility, producing acceptable results with minimal morbidity.

Imaging in gout

Imaging has the potential to assess various pathological manifestations of gout, including monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition, tophus formation and cartilage, soft tissue, and bone pathology. This review discusses recent research examining the role of imaging to assess the manifestations of disease. Various imaging techniques are used in the assessment of gout, including plain radiography, ultrasonography, conventional computed tomography (CT), dual energy computed tomography (DECT), and MRI. Potential roles for ultrasonography are MSU crystal detection, measurement of tophi, and assessment of disease complications. Ultrasonography may allow detection of MSU crystals in patients with hyperuricaemia, prior to development of clinically apparent gout. Conventional CT allows excellent visualization of tophi and bone erosion. DECT is a promising method of noninvasive MSU crystal detection. MRI allows assessment of tophi, synovial and soft tissue disease, and bone pathology. The relative absence of MRI bone marrow oedema in gout suggests that the mechanisms of bone erosion in gout are quite different from those in other erosive arthropathies. Imaging modalities have provided important insights into the pathology of gout. The role of various imaging techniques in gout diagnosis, monitoring, and prediction of outcome is rapidly developing.

A Case of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Unilateral Knee Synovial Hypertrophy in Hemiplegia

A 64-year-old woman suffering right hemiplegia came in with pain and swelling on her left knee, general weakness and poor oral intake for 2 months. On physical examination we were able to palpate a mass with irregular margin around the left suprapatellar area. From the results of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), synovial proliferative disease, infectious arthritis, or gouty arthritis was suspected. We performed a blood laboratory test to detect rheumatologic diseases, knee joint aspiration, and bone scan for differential diagnosis, and were able to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the results of blood laboratory, physical examination, and bone scan. Consequently, we started medications for controlling RA. Herein, we report a case of rheumatoid arthritis with unilateral knee synovial hypertrophy in hemiplegia. If a right hemiplegic patient has recurrent pain on the left knee and synovial hypertrophy, and fails to respond to treatment for osteoarthritis, early detection by evaluation for rheumatic disease is crucial to prevent severe sequelae influencing rehabilitation of hemiplegia.

MR findings of synovial disease in children and young adults: Part 1

Synovial diseases in children can be classified into normal structures as potential sources of pathology (synovial folds: plicae, infrapatellar fat pad clefts); noninfectious synovial proliferation (juvenile idiopathic arthritis, hemophilic arthropathy, lipoma arborescens, synovial osteochondromatosis, pigmented villonodular synovitis, reactive synovitis), and infectious synovial proliferation, deposition disease, vascular malformations, malignancy (including metastasis) and intra-articular/periarticular cysts and cyst-like structures (ganglia). Familiarity with characteristic MR imaging findings of synovial diseases in children and young adults will enable a more confident diagnosis for earlier intervention and directed therapy. The first part of this paper will cover potential pathology of normal synovial structures as well as noninfectious synovial proliferation.

MR findings of synovial disease in children and young adults: Part 2

Synovium is the thin membranous lining of a joint. It produces synovial fluid, which lubricates and nourishes the cartilage and bone in the joint capsule. Synovial diseases in children can be classified as normal structures as potential sources of pathology (synovial folds: plicae, infrapatellar fat pad clefts), noninfectious synovial proliferation (juvenile idiopathic arthritis, hemophilic arthropathy, lipoma arborescens, synovial osteochondromatosis, pigmented villonodular synovitis, reactive synovitis), infectious synovial proliferation (pyogenic arthritis, tuberculous arthritis), deposition disease (gouty arthropathy), vascular malformation, malignancy (metastasis) and intra-/periarticular cysts and cyst-like structures. Other intra-articular neoplasms, such as intra-articular synovial sarcoma, can mimic synovial disease in children.

L’artroscopia dell’anca

Hip arthroscopy is a well-established technique with numerous approved indications. The literature referring to this procedure is expanding. This popularity led to the improvement and the development of surgical instruments to perform complex technical procedures. Indications for hip arthroscopy are labral tears, loose bodies, femoral-acetabular impingement (FAI), ligamentum teres injuries, cartilage lesions, synovial disease, and disorders of the periarticular tendons. Femoral-acetabular impingement is recognized as a pre-arthritic hip pathology.

Allgemeine radiologische Symptomatologie peripherer Gelenke

Eine Diagnoseerstellung rheumatischer Erkrankungen basiert auf klinischen Parametern und auf dem differenzialdiagnostischen Potenzial von Röntgensymptomen. Die systematische Bildanalyse sollte initial beantworten, ob es sich um eine Erkrankung an der Synovia, am Knorpel oder an den Enthesen handelt.

Utilidad de la ecografía en el estudio de la enfermedad sinovial

Synovial disease is common in clinical practice and can have different causes. The development of high resolution ultrasonography (US) has led to greater use of US in the study of synovial disease. In this context, US is useful because (1) it can detect not only synovial disease, but also its consequences as tissue damage (erosions); (2) it can guide arthrocentesis when clinical attempts to obtain joint fluid have been unsuccessful, especially in joints that are difficult to access (hips), or sometimes when joint infections are clinically suspected; (3) it enables the efficacy of treatment for synovitis to be evaluated; and (4) it makes it possible to distinguish benign cystic lesions from other tumors. The overall evaluation of synovial disease is based on semiologic criteria that enables these alterations to be classified into four main groups: (a) joint effusion, (b) cystic synovial lesions, (c) intra-articular free bodies, and (d) synovial thickening.

Hip Resurfacing as Treatment for Synovial Chondromatosis

Synovial chondromatosis is a rare condition of metaplastic cartilage development in the synovial membrane of joints. These foci can form free bodies and lead to mechanical arthrosis. The precise etiology is unknown. All synovial joints can be affected, with the hip and knee being most common. Patients with synovial chondromatosis are usually in their fifth decade and typically present with mechanical pain and diffuse swelling. Due to its rarity and nonspecific manifestations, diagnosis of synovial chondromatosis is often delayed until significant mechanical damage and arthrosis has occurred.Controversy exists regarding surgical treatment of synovial chondromatosis, especially with regard to the hip. Localized disease can be treated with resection of affected synovium (possibly arthroscopically), whereas patients with generalized disease require complete, open synovectomy. With articular damage, total hip replacement has been advocated along with synovectomy.This article presents a case of a young man with painful hip synovial chondromatosis who was successfully treated with hip resurfacing and synovectomy after failed hip arthroscopy. Hip resurfacing provides the surgeon with the opportunity to address not only local or generalized synovial disease, but articular damage as well. Furthermore, its bone-preserving properties make this option attractive in the management of this younger patient population. We feel resurfacing has a role in the surgical treatment of synovial chondromatosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of hip resurfacing arthroplasty for the definitive treatment of synovial chondromatosis.

The usefulness of ultrasonography in synovial disease

Synovial disease is common in clinical practice and can have different causes. The development of high resolution ultrasonography (US) has led to greater use of US in the study of synovial disease. In this context, US is useful because (1) it can detect not only synovial disease, but also its consequences as tissue damage (erosions); (2) it can guide arthrocentesis when clinical attempts to obtain joint fluid have been unsuccessful, especially in joints that are difficult to access (hips), or sometimes when joint infections are clinically suspected; (3) it enables the efficacy of treatment for synovitis to be evaluated; and (4) it makes it possible to distinguish benign cystic lesions from other tumors.The overall evaluation of synovial disease is based on semiologic criteria that enables these alterations to be classified into four main groups: (a) joint effusion, (b) cystic synovial lesions, (c) intra-articular free bodies, and (d) synovial thickening.

Arthroscopic release of the posterior compartments in the treatment of extension deficit of knee

Fibroarthrosis following knee injury or synovial disease is characterized by the presence of dense adhesions filling the entire joint cavity and the fibrotic involvement of periarticular structures. In this particular subset of knee stiffness, both the open and the arthroscopic treatment may fail not addressing all pathology. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of an all-arthroscopic treatment for the flexion contractures addressing both the intra-articular posterior adhesions and the fibrotic periarticular structures. From 2003 through 2007, 18 patients of the knee underwent on arthroscopic posterior arthrolysis with release of both gastrocnemius tendons using the trans-septal technique. The median interval between the index procedure and the arthrolysis was 15 (4-22) months. Eight patients had a previous arthroscopic arthrolysis, performed in other hospitals, and two patients had two arthroscopic procedures after the index procedure which failed to regain the extension deficit. The passive extension deficit averaged 34 degrees preoperatively (16 degrees-44 degrees). Six patients underwent a two-staged procedure: the first surgery addressed the presence of adhesions in the suprapatellar pouch and the medial and/or lateral gutters, to regain the flexion of the knee. At final follow-up, the passive extension deficit averaged 3 degrees (0 degree-5 degrees). In all patients, total knee arc of motion increased from 60 degrees (30 degrees-85 degrees) to 95 degrees (5 degrees-110 degrees). The trans-septal portal allows a safe approach of the posterior compartments and allows addressing pathology of both compartments and the release of gastrocnemius tendons.

Application of three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography in synovitis of rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To investigate the application value of three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography(3D-PDU) for synovial disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods Forty four patients with RA were divided into active (23 cases) and non-active (21 cases) groups. 3D-PDU was used in the wrists to measure the volume of synovium(V) ,vascular index(VI) in synovium.and Doppler spectrum was used to measure synovial artery peak systolic blood flow velocity(PSV) , end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistance index(RI). Results There were significant differences of the V [(1. 73 0. 73) cm3] and VI (9. 53 6. 11) in the group of active patients compared to the V [(1. 09 0. 76) cm3 , P = 0. 008] and VI [(3.86 4.99), P = 0.000] in the ones of inactive patients. No differences were found for PSV [(16. 8 6. 29) cm/s vs (13. 5 8. 54) cm/s, P = 0. 282] ,EDV [(5. 51 1.77) cm/s vs (5. 03 2. 76) cm/s, P = 0. 539] and RI (0. 66 0. 07 vs 0. 62 0. 08, P = 0. 095)in the comparison of two groups. Conclusions 3D-PDU in determining RA disease activity in patients with synovial medium has a higher application value, VI can be used as an effective indicator to determine the disease activity. Key words: ] Ultrasonography; Arthritis,rheumatoid; Synovial membrane

Arthroscopic operations in knee joint with early-stage tuberculosis

Due to atypical clinical presentation, wide use of antibiotics and lack of specificity in diagnosis, misdiagnosis is common, and diagnosis of tubercular infection in a joint is increasingly difficult. The use of arthroscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage knee TB has rarely been reported. Through this case series we describe the usefulness of arthroscopy for the management of synovial tuberculosis of the knee joint. Synovectomy and synovial membrane biopsy were performed using arthroscopy in ten subjects suffering from synovial tuberculosis. This was combined with intra-articular isoniazid injection and systemic antituberculosis drugs. In all cases, continuous passive motion exercise was started 2 days after operation and they were followed up from 6 months to 3 years. The flexion angles 90 degrees +/- 5 degrees preoperatively increased to 120 degrees +/- 14 degrees in nine patients following surgery, the extension limit angle also improved from an average 20 degrees +/- 3 degrees preoperatively to 5 degrees +/- 1 degrees postoperatively. There was a significant difference in knee function index between preoperation and postoperation (t = 6.9, t = 6.3, P < 0.01). Japanese Institute of Plastic Surgery synovial disease treatment success criteria was also improved from 44.4 +/- 8.4 points before surgery to 81.5 +/- 10.4 following surgery (t = 8.749, P < 0.01). The joint swelling disappeared or was relieved after 2 months. No relapse of tuberculosis was found at the time of follow-up. Combined use of arthroscopy and antituberculosis medication appears to be advantageous for the management of early-stage synovial tuberculosis of the knee joint. Arthroscopic removal of the pannus allows better nutrition of the cartilage and thus greatly improves the joint function.

Prediction of erosion progression using ultrasound in established rheumatoid arthritis: a 2-year follow-up study

This study aimed to determine whether a range of single-time-point ultrasound (US) measures of synovial disease and serologic characteristics were able to predict progression of US-defined erosive disease in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Forty patients were studied prospectively. At baseline, subjective US measures of bone damage and synovial disease, including grayscale and power Doppler (PD) scores pre- and post-Sonovue contrast, were obtained from one proximal inter-phalangeal or metacarpo-phalangeal joint per patient. After a minimum of 2 years, the same joints were scanned to obtain a new US erosion score. Follow-up US erosion scores were obtained in 25 joints. Progressive US determined that bone damage occurred in 12/25 joints, including four of eight treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. Baseline erosion scores were significantly higher in joints that did not show progressive bone damage in the entire cohort (p = 0.05, n = 25) and a subgroup treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (p = 0.015, n = 17). There were no other significant differences in baseline US or serologic scores between joints that developed progressive damage and those that did not. The majority of single-time-point US measures of synovial disease were not able to identify metacarpo-phalangeal or inter-phalangeal joint destined to develop progressive US-determined bone damage in patients with established RA. This may reflect the use of single-time-point measures, insensitivity of the US erosion score, and the long duration of RA disease in this study.

Telomerase Transduced Osteoarthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes Display a Distinct Gene Expression Profile

To examine the differential gene expression in telomerase transduced osteoarthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (hTERT-OA 13A FLS) and telomerase transduced rheumatoid arthritis FLS (hTERT-RA 516 FLS) and test the hypothesis that longterm culture of hTERT-OA 13A FLS display a disease-specific gene expression profile. Gene expression in passage 8 hTERT-OA 13A FLS and passage 8 hTERT-RA 516 FLS were compared using microarray assays. Differential expression of selected genes was further examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). After continuous expansion in culture for an additional 4 months, gene expression in the longterm cultures of hTERT-OA 13A FLS and hTERT-RA 516 FLS was again examined with microarray and real-time RT-PCR. hTERT-OA 13A FLS displayed a distinct gene expression profile. While hTERT-RA 516 FLS expressedADAMTS1, ADAMTS3, ADAMTS5, and several carboxypeptidases, hTERT-OA 13A FLS expressed matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1, MMP3, and several cathepsins at higher levels. Numerous genes classified in the immune response, lipid transport/catabolism, and phosphate transport biological processes were also expressed at higher levels in hTERT-OA 13A FLS. In contrast, numerous genes classified in the positive regulation of cell proliferation, anti-apoptosis, and angiogenesis biological processes were expressed at higher levels in hTERT-RA 516 FLS. Further, of the recently proposed 21 candidate synovial biomarkers of OA, 12 (57%) were detected in our study. The findings indicate that OA FLS may not be a passive bystander in OA and that telomerase transduced OA FLS offer an alternative tool for the study of synovial disease markers and for the identification of new therapeutic targets for OA therapy.

High-Resolution Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Upper Limb Disorders

The purpose of this study is to determine the reliability of high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) in the diagnosis of upper limb disorders compared with the initial clinical opinion. We prospectively studied 178 patients referred for HRUS examination (47.2% hand, 34.8% wrist, and 18% elbow examinations) by recording the clinical opinion, the specific ultrasound diagnosis, and the final diagnosis, as established by surgery (79.9%) or follow-up (20.1%). HRUS examination was highly reliable in diagnosing cystic lesions, synovial disease, ligament injury and foreign bodies (100%), and slightly less reliable for solid lesions (82.1%) and nerve, bone, and tendon disorders (97%, 91.7%, 86.5%, respectively). HRUS examination resulted in significantly more correct diagnoses (92.1%) than the clinical opinion (70.8%) (McNemar test, P = 0.001). The agreement between the HRUS diagnosis and the clinical opinion was slight (Kappa test, k = 0.16). HRUS examination is more reliable than clinical examination in diagnosing upper limb disorders.

The relation between composite ultrasound measures and the DAS28 score, its components and acute phase markers in adult RA

Ultrasound (US) provides measurements of synovial morphology and vascularity. However, on an individual joint basis in RA, US measures do not relate well to clinical signs. This study investigates the relationship between composite US measures and the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), its components and acute phase markers in adult RA. RA synovial disease activity was recorded in 50 patients by: (i) the DAS28 score; (ii) ESR and CRP; and (iii) US using Grey scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) measures of PIP and MCP joints to derive composite US scores based on abnormal counts and severity. A total of 25 control subjects were studied to define normal US appearances. The relation between each measure of synovial disease was determined by Spearman correlation analysis. There was a significant relation between the DAS28 and the GS joint count (GSJC, Spearman's r = 0.4; P = 0.004) and severity score (GSJS, r = 0.34; P = 0.016) and the PD joint count (PDJC, r = 0.32; P = 0.028). There was a significant relation between the ESR and PDJC (r = 0.37; P = 0.007) and PD joint severity score (PDJS, r = 0.38; P = 0.006) and between the CRP and PDJS (r = 0.29; P = 0.04). The remaining components of the DAS28 related poorly to all US measures, except the tender joint count, which related significantly to the GS but not the PD measures. Composite US markers of synovial disease relate significantly to the DAS28 score and ESR/CRP in adult RA, but not as well with individual clinical joint counts and the patient's global assessment.