Correlative study of ultrasonographic features with clinical measures in Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract :

Introduction:

Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a special form of rheumatoid arthritis which occurs in childhood and adolescence before the age of sixteen. It is considered a major cause of disability. ( 1 Horneff, et al, 2004) It primarily affects the joints but can also cause heavy damage to organs and systems. ( 2 Meholji, 2005)

History and physical examination supplemented with radiological investigation are the usual tools to reach a diagnosis in JRA. ( 3 Bierma et al, 2000)

Although previous studies in patients with JRA have demonstrated that MRI reveals early joint involvement, it considered expensive, time consuming and subsequently not suitable as monitoring follow up method ( 4 Herve-Somma 1992)

Ultrasonography is an increasingly used technique for the evaluation of inflammatory joint disease ( 5 Canoso, 2000) it has been shown to be sensitive in the detection of synovitis and bone erosion in both small and large joints. ( 6 Alarcon et al, 2002) It has several advantages over MRI including cost, immediate availability in the clinic and the ability to scan multiple joints at the same time. ( 7 Wakefield et al, 2004)

The aim of this paper was to study the ultrasonographic features of the knee and hip joints as a model of superficial and deep synovial joints in relation to the clinical measures of the JRA patients and also to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosis of local joint activity.