Agreement of clinical examination and ultrasound methods for detection of joints involvements in rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial tissue inflammation and destruction of articular components which if not controlled properly, can cause disability in patients. For this reason, evaluation of disease activity and its control is very important. In recent years using sonography is promising for the evaluation of disease activity. This study aimed to compare "clinical examination" and "ultrasonography" methods in the detection of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2015 in Al-Zahra Hospital of Isfahan. Based on the American College of Rheumatology 2010 criteria, ninety patients with rheumatoid arthritis who diagnosed by rheumatologist entered into the study. All patients, collaborator by radiologists were subjected to sonography of specific joints structures using two methods, i.e., high-resolution ultrasonography and power Doppler. RESULTS A total of 2520 joints from ninety patients were examined by physical examination and ultrasonography that 244 joints (9.7%) in physical examination and 348 joints (13.4%) in ultrasonography were involved and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Probably, ultrasonography can diagnose joint involvement better than physical examination in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis.