Ultrasonography in gout: a case-control study.

Objectives: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography for gout, and to investigate the relationship with severity of gout.

Methods: In this case-control study, we prospectively enrolled 53 patients with crystal-proven gout and 50 controls. Ultrasonography was performed on 10 joints for each patient (metatarsophalangeal [MTP] joints 1-2, knees, metacarpophalangeal [MCP] joints 2-3) to determine the prevalence of the double contour (DC) sign and tophi in each site.

An exploratory ultrasound study of early gout.

Objectives: We aimed to determine by ultrasonography (US) the prevalence of articular monosodium urate deposits in patients with gout who do not require urate lowering therapy (ULT) according to international recommendations.

Methods: In this prospective study, we enrolled patients with proven gout demonstrated by crystals in synovial fluid but who did not require ULT. Two trained ultrasonographers assessed 10 joints per patient (metatarsophalangeal [MTP] joints 1-2, knees, metacarpophalangeal [MCP] joints 2-3) to determine the prevalence of the double-contour (DC) sign and tophi in each site.

Unité Rhumatologique des Affections de la Main (URAM) scale: development and validation of a tool to assess Dupuytren's disease-specific disability.

Objective: To our knowledge, no functional outcome measure has been developed and validated for Dupuytren's disease. We aimed to develop and validate a patient-reported functional outcome measure for Dupuytren's disease.

Methods: Patients with Dupuytren's disease (n = 9) and medical experts (n = 7) provided input and opinions about limiting activities that were difficult to perform because of Dupuytren's disease for item generation.