Introduction: Musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) represents a valid, reliable and sensitive-to-change tool for the evaluation of patients suffering from rheumatic conditions. This method demonstrates a wide applicability and availability, finding place in the clinical practice in rheumatology outpatient clinic.

Aim: To perform an epidemiological evaluation related to the use of US in a university rheumatology outpatient clinic.

Material And Methods: During a 3-month period, data concerning consecutive patients attending to the US Unit of Department of Rheumatology, Sapienza University of Rome were registered. We collected the demographic data, the diagnosis, the reason for the US examination, the examined joints, as well as the requesting physicians' specialty.

Results: In the period October-December 2013, 572 patients (M/F 137/435; mean age+/-SD 55.2+/-15.8 years) were registered. The US examination was more frequently requested for the following diseases: rheumatoid arthritis (29.5%), osteoarthritis (10.6%), spondyloarthritis (9.1%), and connective tissue diseases (8.9%). In 239 of cases (41.8%), the US evaluation was requested for other indications. The US evaluation was requested slightly more frequently for monitoring (55.7%) compared to diagnosis (44.3%). The requesting physician was a rheumatologist in the majority of the cases (80.6%). The most frequent requested were the hand joints (28.9%) and wrists (23.3%).

Conclusions: US examinations are most frequently used in the evaluation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and mainly to monitor the disease. The exam is requested mostly by rheumatologists. The hand joints and wrists were the most frequently evaluated.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.11152/mu.201.3.2066.164.fcc2DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

rheumatology outpatient
12
musculoskeletal ultrasound
8
evaluation patients
8
rheumatoid arthritis
8
evaluation requested
8
hand joints
8
evaluation
5
requested
5
rheumatology
4
ultrasound rheumatology
4

Similar Publications

Objective: Previous studies on the efficacy of methotrexate in people with hand osteoarthritis (OA) have shown conflicting results. The MERINO trial aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of methotrexate in people with painful inflammatory erosive hand OA.

Design: In total 163 participants with erosive hand OA, synovitis by ultrasound, and finger joint pain of 40-80 ​mm on a visual analogue scale (VAS) will be recruited from a rheumatology outpatient clinic.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objectives: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorders of undetermined cause. Uveitis is one of the commonest and most dangerous extra-articular manifestations of JIA and RA presenting chronic anterior uveitis with non-specific biomarkers for its early detection. We evaluated the role of serum 14-3-3 Eta protein to assess its potential role as a novel biomarker for the early detection of uveitis in Egyptian JIA and RA patients as well as its correlation with disease activity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The Person-Centred Care instrument for outpatient care (PCCoc) is a 36-item patient-reported experience measure with 4 ordered response categories, that aims to capture the degree of perceived person-centred care (PCC) from a patient perspective among persons with long-term conditions. The PCCoc is based on a framework that conceptualises outpatient PCC from lower to higher levels of perceived PCC, from personalisation via shared decision-making to empowerment, where 35 of the PCCoc items are a part of the framework's hierarchy.

Aim: To investigate to what extent empirical item responses are consistent with the hierarchical PCCoc conceptual framework among persons with long-term conditions in outpatient care.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Dermatomyositis is a chronic autoimmune disease with distinctive cutaneous eruptions and muscle weakness, and the pathophysiology is characterised by type I interferon (IFN) dysregulation. This study aims to assess the efficacy, safety, and target engagement of dazukibart, a potent, selective, humanised IgG1 neutralising monoclonal antibody directed against IFNβ, in adults with moderate-to-severe dermatomyositis.

Methods: This multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial was conducted at 25 university-based hospitals and outpatient sites in Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and the USA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Physical activity is beneficial for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, little is known about how healthcare professionals counsel and support patients with RA to be physically active.

Aim: This study aims to explore nurses' and physiotherapists' perceptions of delivering physical activity counselling for patients with RA during routine follow-up appointments.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!