Ultrasonographic evaluation of the anterior chest wall in spondyloarthritis: a prospective and controlled study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and type of ultrasonographic (US) lesions of the anterior chest wall (ACW) in cases of spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Methods: This monocentric, prospective, and controlled study included patients consulting for SpA (Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society criteria) and control subjects. Clinical (pain and swelling) and US assessments (synovitis, joint effusion, erosion, ankylosis, margin narrowing, or Doppler signal) were performed on the sternoclavicular (SCJ) and the manubriosternal (MSJ) joints. The main characteristics of SpA were recorded [disease duration, biologic features, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), radiographic and extraarticular involvement].

Results: The study included 131 patients with SpA and 49 control subjects (same age and sex ratio). Clinical and US involvement of ACW were found in, respectively, 39% and 35.5% of SpA and in 12% and 14.3% of controls (p < 0.01). US highlighted erosions (34 vs 0), margin narrowing (12 vs 0), power Doppler activity (18 vs 2; p < 0.05), and ankylosis of the MSJ (24 vs 3). US involvement was associated with disease duration (14.9 vs 11.1 years; p = 0.04), age (45 vs 41 years; p = 0.004), radiographic change of sacroiliac joint (p = 0.05), and presence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; p = 0.03). No associations were found with HLA-B27, psoriasis, enthesitis, uveitis, or clinical involvement of ACW. Clinical involvement is associated with a higher BASDAI (47 vs 32; p = 0.0009) and ASDAS (2.9 vs 2.2; p = 0.006).

Conclusion: US involvement of ACW is frequent in SpA (36.5%), mainly with erosion of SCJ and ankylosis of MSJ. It is associated with disease duration, radiographic sacroiliitis, and IBD.