Ultrasound in the evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis.

In the last two decades, ultrasound has been fully implemented in the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis. Several studies have been published that have demonstrated better availability of this technique in the identification of elementary inflammatory joint and tendon injuries, as joint and tendon sheath synovial hypertrophy, joint effusion, and Power Doppler signal. Ultrasonography has good properties to identify changes with different treatments, have predictive value for relapse in patients in clinical remission and in structural damage.

Experts document on methotrexate use in combined therapy with biological or targeted synthetic disease modifying drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: We aimed to develop recommendations for the management of methotrexate (MTX) when considering the combination with biological (b) or targeted synthetic (ts) disease modifying drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Eleven experts on RA were selected. Two coordinators formulated 13 questions about the combination therapy of MTX with bDMARDs or tsDMARDs.

Interobserver reliability of Masei index validation by a multicenter collaborative group of rheumatologists.

MASEI is the main validated ultrasound score for the evaluation of enthesis. The lack of studies facing the agreement to achieve for the interpretation of the MAdrid Sonographic Enthesis Index (MASEI) among researchers from different centers in multicenter studies is of concern. The aim of this multicenter was to evaluate the interobserver reliability of MASEI.

Experts document on methotrexate use in combined therapy with biological or targeted synthetic disease modifying drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: We aimed to develop recommendations for the management of methotrexate (MTX) when considering the combination with biological (b) or targeted synthetic (ts) disease modifying drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Eleven experts on RA were selected. Two coordinators formulated 13 questions about the combination therapy of MTX with bDMARDs or tsDMARDs.

Analysis of the correlation between disease activity score 28 and its ultrasonographic equivalent in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: To study the differences between disease activity score 28 (DAS28) index and an ultrasound (US) approach using index echographic disease activity score (ECODAS).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected.