Comparison of predictive values of power Doppler ultrasonography versus contrast-enhanced ultrasongraphy for rheumatoid arthritissynovitis activeness in clinical remission period

Objective To investigate the predictive value of contrast-enhanced ultrasongraphy for rheumatoid arthritis synovitis activeness in clinical remission period. Methods Seventy-four patients (148 wrist joints) with remission rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed in Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital from September 2017 to July 2019 were selected. Of the enrolled patients, wrist joints with thickened synovial membrane were selected, and micro-vessels in synovial membrane were detected by power Doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. The examination results in synovial thickness, display rate of blood flow signals and blood flow classification of the two methods were compared. Results ①Mean synovial thickness detected by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was (5.17±2.06)mm, which was better than the (4.89±2.00)mm detected by power Doppler ultrasonography (t=8.765, P<0.001). ② Display rate of blood flow signals determined by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was 59.5% (69/116), better than the 26.7% (31/116) determined by power Doppler ultrasonography (P<0.001). ③ Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was superior to power Doppler ultrasonography in classifying blood flow signals (Kappa=0.173, P=0.043). Conclusions Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography could more accurate reflect the rheumatoid arthritis synovitis activeness in clinical remission period, and guide the clinical treatment. Key words: Arthritis, rheumatoid; Clinical remission; Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; Power Doppler ultrasound; Synovial inflammation