Factors associated with subclinical inflammation of wrist joints in rheumatoid arthritis patients with low or no disease activity- a RA ultrasound registry study

• Published in: BMC musculoskeletal disorders Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 438
• Main Authors: Wang, Yu-Wei, Chen, Jia-Feng, Ko, Chi-Hua, Cheng, Tien-Tsai, Chiu, Wen-Chan, Yu, Shan-Fu, Hsu, Chung-Yuan, Chen, Ying-Chou
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 30.05.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Alcohol; Biological products; Comorbidity; Complications and side effects; DAS 28; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Disease activity; Doppler effect; Glucocorticoids; Immunotherapy; Inflammation; Injuries; Joint diseases; Methotrexate; Musculoskeletal diseases; Patients; Regression analysis; Remission; Remission (Medicine); Rheumatoid arthritis; Subclinical inflammation; Synovitis; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound; Wrist; China; United States > US; DAS 28; Disease activity; Subclinical inflammation; Ultrasound; Rheumatoid arthritis
• DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06521-8
• ISSN: 1471-2474

To evaluate the factors to predict subclinical inflammation of wrist joints in patients with RA who are in clinical remission or low disease activity. Gray scale and power Doppler ultrasound were performed on the dorsal radio-lunate of both wrists. The presence of synovitis, comorbidities, and use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were recorded. A Multivariable forward logistical regression model was used to identify factors associated with subclinical inflammation. There were 1248 patients (1010 females, 238 males; mean age: 60.0 ± 10.5 years ). 57.4% of patients in complete remission and low disease activity had sonographic inflammation. Multivariable forward logistic regression analysis indicated that male sex, smoking are positively associated with inflammation and that age, alcohol consumption, and use of methotrexate, glucocorticoid, or a biological therapy are negatively associated with inflammation. Use of biological agents decreased the risk of inflammation by 40.9%. There was evidence of subclinical inflammation in most patients who were in low or no disease activity, those with biological therapy had lower risk of subclinical inflammation.