[THE PREVALENCE OF POSITIVE POWER DOPPLER SIGNALS BY MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND OF HANDS IN SCLERODERMA PATIENTS].

Background: Musculoskeletal ultrasound is increasingly used in the evaluation of joint inflammation. Power Doppler can identify increased hyperemia which indicates inflammation.

Objectives: To measure the prevalence and level of positive Power Doppler signals at the hand joints of scleroderma patients.

Methods: Ten scleroderma patients were examined by ultrasound of the dominant hand. Power Doppler signals were measured at the wrist as well as the metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPS), proximal interphalangeal joints (PIPS) and distal interphalangeal joints (DIPS) at the second to fifth fingers. Clinical information regarding age, gender, disease duration, level of involvement (limited or diffuse) and skin score were collected. The data were taken from a larger ultrasound study from UCLA University that examined the validation of ultrasound in scleroderma.

Results: Mean age was 51.7 years and 70% were females; 212 joints were examined. Positive Power Doppler signals were found in 30% of patients and were mostly low grade. Power Doppler signals were found in 3.3% of the joints of scleroderma patients.

Discussion: Level of Power Doppler signals which probably reflects the level of joint inflammation was low in the scleroderma patients and its prevalence was low.