TY - JOUR

T1 - Novel algorithms for the pragmatic use of ultrasound in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

T2 - From diagnosis to remission

AU - D'Agostino, Maria-Antonietta

AU - Terslev, Lene

AU - Wakefield, Richard

AU - Østergaard, Mikkel

AU - Balint, Peter

AU - Naredo, Esperanza

AU - Iagnocco, Annamaria

AU - Backhaus, Marina

AU - Grassi, Walter

AU - Emery, Paul

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - The absence of specific guidance on how to use ultrasound (US) to diagnose and manage patients with inflammatory arthritis, especially with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has hindered the optimal utilisation of US in clinical practice, potentially limiting its benefits for patient outcomes. In view of this, a group of musculoskeletal US experts formed a working group to consider how this unmet need could be satisfied and to produce guidance (additional to European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) imaging recommendations) to support clinicians in their daily clinical work. This paper describes this process and its outcome, namely five novel algorithms, which identify when US could be used. They are designed to aid diagnosis, to inform assessment of treatment response/disease monitoring and to evaluate stable disease state or remission in patients with suspected or established RA, by providing a pragmatic template for using US at certain time points of the RA management. A research agenda has also been defined for answering unmet clinical needs.

AB - The absence of specific guidance on how to use ultrasound (US) to diagnose and manage patients with inflammatory arthritis, especially with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has hindered the optimal utilisation of US in clinical practice, potentially limiting its benefits for patient outcomes. In view of this, a group of musculoskeletal US experts formed a working group to consider how this unmet need could be satisfied and to produce guidance (additional to European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) imaging recommendations) to support clinicians in their daily clinical work. This paper describes this process and its outcome, namely five novel algorithms, which identify when US could be used. They are designed to aid diagnosis, to inform assessment of treatment response/disease monitoring and to evaluate stable disease state or remission in patients with suspected or established RA, by providing a pragmatic template for using US at certain time points of the RA management. A research agenda has also been defined for answering unmet clinical needs.

KW - Rheumatoid Arthritis

KW - Synovitis

KW - Ultrasonography

U2 - 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209646

DO - 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209646

M3 - Review

C2 - 27553213

AN - SCOPUS:84984611726

VL - 75

SP - 1902

EP - 1908

JO - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

SN - 0003-4967

IS - 11

ER -