Pulmonary echography in systemic sclerosis

The Value of Ultrasound for Detecting and Following Subclinical Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a complication in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Accurate strategies to identify its presence in early phases are essential. We conducted the study aiming to determine the validity of ultrasound (US) in detecting subclinical ILD in SSc, and to ascertain its potential in determining the disease progression.

METHODS

133 patients without respiratory symptoms and 133 healthy controls were included. Borg scale, Rodnan skin score (RSS), auscultation, chest radiographs, and respiratory function tests (RFT) were performed. A rheumatologist performed the lung US. High-resolution CT (HRCT) was also performed. The patients were followed every 12 weeks for 48 weeks.

RESULTS

A total of 79 of 133 patients (59.4%) showed US signs of ILD in contrast to healthy controls (4.8%) (p = 0.0001). Anti-centromere antibodies (p = 0.005) and RSS (p = 0.004) showed an association with ILD. A positive correlation was demonstrated between the US and HRCT findings (p = 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of US in detecting ILD were 91.2% and 88.6%, respectively. In the follow-up, a total of 30 patients out of 79 (37.9%) who demonstrated US signs of ILD at baseline, showed changes in the ILD score by US.

CONCLUSIONS

US showed a high prevalence of subclinical ILD in SSc patients. It proved to be a valid, reliable, and feasible tool to detect ILD in SSc and to monitor disease progression.

Standardization of interstitial lung disease assessment by ultrasound: results from a Delphi process and web-reliability exercise by the OMERACT ultrasound working group

OBJECTIVES

Over the last years ultrasound has shown to be an important tool for evaluating lung involvement, including interstitial lung disease (ILD) a potentially severe systemic involvement in many rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD). Despite the potential sensitivity of the technique the actual use is hampered by the lack of consensual definitions of elementary lesions to be assessed and of the scanning protocol to apply. Within the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Ultrasound Working Group we aimed at developing consensus-based definitions for ultrasound detected ILD findings in RMDs and assessing their reliability in dynamic images.

METHODS

Based on the results from a systematic literature review, several findings were identified for defining the presence of ILD by ultrasound (i.e., Am-lines, B-lines, pleural cysts and pleural line irregularity). Therefore, a Delphi survey was conducted among 23 experts in sonography to agree on which findings should be included and on their definitions. Subsequently, a web-reliability exercise was performed to test the reliability of the agreed definitions on video-clips, by using kappa statistics.

RESULTS

After three rounds of Delphi an agreement >75 % was obtained to include and define B-lines and pleural line irregularity as elementary lesions to assess. The reliability in the web-based exercise, consisting of 80 video-clips (30 for pleural line irregularity, 50 for B-lines), showed moderate inter-reader reliability for both B-lines (kappa = 0.51) and pleural line irregularity (kappa = 0.58), while intra-reader reliability was good for both B-lines (kappa = 0.72) and pleural line irregularity (kappa = 0.75).

CONCLUSION

Consensus-based ultrasound definitions for B-lines and pleural line irregularity were obtained, with moderate to good reliability to detect these lesions using video-clips. The next step will be testing the reliability in patients with ILD linked to RMDs and to propose a consensual and standardized protocol to scan such patients.

Ultrasound for diagnosis of interstitial lung disease in diffuse connective tissue diseases

Patients with diffuse connective tissue diseases frequently develop interstitial lung disease, which carries a worse prognosis and shortens survival. High-resolution computed tomography is the first-choice test, and is competitive with histopathology, however, the cost and radiation may limit its use, particularly for screening. Lung ultrasound is a rapid, accessible, reproducible, and inexpensive study that is useful for diagnosis of interstitial lung disease. Furthermore, extensive training is not required to identify the alterations associated with these lung diseases. B lines and pleural irregularities compose the ultrasonographic interstitial syndrome, although, it must be kept in mind that it is not specific, and it is necessary to rule out haemodynamic, cardiovascular, and infectious abnormalities. This review highlights the elevated prevalence of this lung condition in the main rheumatological diseases, with emphasis on the usefulness of pulmonary ultrasound.

Evaluation of connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease using ultrasound elastography: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common pulmonary complication of connective tissue disease (CTD), which can lead to shortened survival. This article explores the ability of shear wave elastography (SWE) to assess lung surface elastic properties and to distinguish healthy lungs from diseased lungs with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD). We aimed to determine whether SWE can be used to assess the severity of CTD-ILD.

METHODS

A total of 65 CTD-ILD patients and 60 healthy volunteers were included for the case group and the control group, respectively. All participants underwent lung ultrasound (count of B-line and measurement of pleural line thickness) and SWE [measurement of Young's modulus (Emean) and shear wave velocity (SMV) (Cmean)] examinations at 50 lung sites. All participants also underwent an examination with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and a pulmonary function test (PFT). For SWE assessment, the Q-box was set to its minimum size (1 mm) and manually placed on the pleural line, rather than inside the lung, to measure the stiffness of the lung surface. The intra- and inter-reliability of SWE measurements of healthy controls (HC), the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for SWE for CTD-ILD, and correlations between different assessment methods were analyzed.

RESULTS

Excellent intra- and inter-reliability of SWE measurements on the mid-anterior lung site of HCs (correlation coefficient >0.97; P<0.01) were found. The results of the lung ultrasound of case group participants were significantly higher than those of HCs at each site (P<0.001). The SWE results revealed a significant increase in both Emean and Cmean in CTD-ILD patients (P<0.001) compared with HCs at certain sites (P<0.001). The areas under the curve (AUC) of Emean and Cmean for CTD-ILD were 0.646 and 0.647 (P<0.05), respectively, and the cutoff values for Emean and Cmean to distinguish CTD-ILD from healthy lungs were 15.81 kPa and 2.31 m/s, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the SWE measured values and the number of B-lines, or the HRCT and PFT results, respectively (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

As a noninvasive ultrasound elastography (UE) technique, SWE may provide a novel method to differentiate CTD-ILD-affected lungs and healthy lungs. It is a reliable way to measure the stiffness of a healthy lung surface in the supine position. However, the ability of SWE to evaluate the severity of CTD-ILD may be limited.

[Value of CT and transthoracic lung ultrasound in patients with systemic sclerosis : Joint statement of the ÖRG/ÖGP/ÖGR/ÖGUM]

Die Lungenbeteiligung ist die häufigste Todesursache bei Patienten mit systemischer Sklerose (SSc). Da eine Lungenbeteiligung häufig asymptomatisch ist, wird derzeit empfohlen, bei allen Patienten mit einer neu diagnostizierten SSc eine Thorax-CT durchzuführen. Uneinigkeit herrscht derzeit darüber, wie SSc-Patienten, bei denen zum Diagnosezeitpunkt keine Lungenbeteiligung gefunden wurde, weiterverfolgt werden sollen. Basierend auf einem Konsensus österreichischer Rheumatologen, Pneumologen und Radiologen, wird empfohlen, bei asymptomatischen PatientInnen mit einer negativen CT zum Zeitpunkt der Erstdiagnose jährlich transthorakale Ultraschalluntersuchungen sowie Lungenfunktionsuntersuchungen alle 6 bis 12 Monate durchzuführen. Bei Vorliegen eines positiven Lungenultraschallbefundes wird eine ergänzende CT zur weiterführenden Abklärung empfohlen. Aufgrund der Datenlage werden bei PatientInnen mit einem höheren Risiko, definiert durch entsprechende Risikofaktoren, jährliche CT-Verlaufskontrollen empfohlen.

High-Resolution Computed Tomography and Lung Ultrasound in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: Which One to Choose?

Imaging plays a pivotal role in systemic sclerosis for both diagnosis management of pulmonary complications, and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the most sensitive technique for the evaluation of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). Indeed, several studies have demonstrated that HRCT helps radiologists and clinicians to make a correct diagnosis on the basis of recognised typical patterns for SSc-ILD. Most SSc patients affected by ILD have a non-specific interstitial pneumonia pattern (NISP) on HRCT scan, whilst a minority of cases fulfil the criteria for usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Moreover, several recent studies have demonstrated that lung ultrasound (LUS) is an emergent tool in SSc diagnosis and follow-up, although its role is still to be confirmed. Therefore, this article aims at evaluating the role of LUS in SSc screening, aimed at limiting the use of CT to selected cases.

Use of ultrasound to diagnose and monitor interstitial lung disease in rheumatic diseases

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most relevant extra-articular manifestations of rheumatic diseases resulting in a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and close monitoring to identify patients at high risk of progression are crucial to establish the need for targeted treatment with immunomodulatory and antifibrotic drugs, with potential ability to change the course of the disease. However, there are unmet needs in this field as pulmonary auscultation, chest radiography, or pulmonary function studies do not allow identification of the most incipient stages of the disease. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), which is the current gold standard for diagnosis and evolutionary control, is problematic owing to ionizing radiation, cost, and accessibility. In this context, lung ultrasound (LUS) is an attractive tool in a growing research and validation process. The identification of vertical artifacts, such as B lines, and alterations of the pleural line present a good correlation with the presence of ILD by HRCT and have a good concordance with the extent and severity of the disease, with sensitivity and negative predictive values of up to 100%. Regarding the monitoring of the evolution, the validation process of LUS is in a more preliminary phase but data is encouraging. All this, together with its safety, accessibility, low cost, and good patient acceptance, postulate LUS as a useful tool for the screening of ILD and for the optimization of the indications of HRCT. Key Points • The good sensitivity and negative predictive values of LUS postulate this technique as a useful tool for the screening of ILD and for the optimization of the indications of HRCT in rheumatic diseases.

The role of ultrasound in systemic sclerosis: On the cutting edge to foster clinical and research advancement

Ultrasound has been widely explored in systemic sclerosis in the clinical and research settings. Ultrasound allows a non-invasive and ionising radiation-free 'window' into this complex disease and is well-suited to repeated examinations. Ultrasound provides novel insights into the pathogenesis and measurement of disease in systemic sclerosis, including early (preclinical) internal organ involvement. The purpose of this review is to describe the role of ultrasound to foster clinical and research advancements in systemic sclerosis relating to (1) musculoskeletal, (2) digital ulcer, (3) lung disease and (4) skin disease. We also highlight unmet needs which much be addressed for ultrasound to assume a central role in systemic sclerosis clinical care and research.

Usefulness of extra-articular ultrasound applied to systemic inflammatory diseases in clinical practice

Ultrasound is a non-invasive, innocuous, reproducible, cost-efficient imaging technique that provides immediate information, as it can be performed in our consultations. The good profile of ultrasound and the technological advances that have taken place in recent years, which have allowed a substantial improvement in the resolution of the image to make it almost anatomical, have promoted research on its application in the comprehensive study of systemic inflammatory diseases. At present, the threshold of using ultrasound to exclusively investigate musculoskeletal manifestations has been crossed, to also apply it to the study of extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities associated with rheumatic diseases. In this review we will revise its usefulness for the diagnosis of glandular involvement in Sjögren's syndrome, interstitial lung disease or giant cell arteritis and for stratification of cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Prognostic Value of Lung Ultrasound B-Lines in Systemic Sclerosis

BACKGROUND

A high percentage of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients experience interstitial lung disease (ILD) during the disease course. Recent data have shown that lung ultrasound (LUS) can assess ILD by the evaluation of B-lines, the sonographic sign of pulmonary interstitial involvement.

RESEARCH QUESTION

To establish the prognostic value of B-lines in a large number of patients with SSc.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 396 consecutive patients with SSc, who were enrolled at three Rheumatology Departments, underwent a comprehensive LUS examination on the anterolateral and posterior chest for a total of 58 scanning sites. All available clinical, imaging, and functional data were recorded. Patients were followed after enrolment to establish the prognostic role of LUS.

RESULTS

The median number of B-lines was higher in patients with the diffuse cutaneous subset (44 vs 17 B-lines; P < .0001), topoisomerase I autoantibodies (39 vs 16 B-lines; P < .0001), and the presence of ILD at chest high-resolution CT (45 vs 9 B-lines; P < .0001). At multivariable analysis, the number of posterior B-lines ≥5 was associated with new development or worsening ILD (hazard ratio, 3.378; 95% CI, 1.137-9.994; P = .028), with additional value over topoisomerase I positivity. The prognostic value was further confirmed in the subgroup of patients with known ILD at baseline (hazard ratio, 1.010; 95% CI, 1.003-1.018; P = .008).

INTERPRETATION

Lung ultrasound B-lines are associated with worsening or development of pulmonary deterioration. In the near future, LUS might become part of the diagnostic and prognostic armamentarium in patients with SSc, which would allow a more sustainable and user-friendly approach to this very fragile population.

Subclinical Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis. A Pilot Study on the Role of Ultrasound

INTRODUCTION

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common comorbidity present in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Employment of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is very limited and lung ultrasound (LUS) can be an alternative tool for the early evaluation of ILD.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the validity of LUS in the early detection of ILD in patients with SSc.

METHODS

Sixty-eight patients with SSc ≥18 years without respiratory symptoms were included. A rheumatologist rated the subclinical respiratory condition, another rheumatologist blinded to the clinical assessment performed the LUS. To determine validity HRCT was performed as well.

RESULTS

Prevalence of ILD in SSc patients was 41.2% in contrast to the 4.8% healthy controls (P=.0001). Variables associated with LUS and HRCT findings were anti-centromere antibodies (P=.005) and the Rodnan skin score (P=.004). A positive correlation was present between the findings of HRCT and LUS (P=.001). Sensitivity and specificity were 91.2% and 88.6% respectively. Good reliability in the LUS findings was found between observers (k=.72).

CONCLUSIONS

By proving to be a valid, trustworthy and feasible alternative tool, we consider that LUS can be implemented for the early detection of ILD in SSc.

Ultrasound as a potential tool for the assessment of interstitial lung disease in rheumatic patients. Where are we now?

Lung ultrasound (LUS) achieved an intriguing role in the management of pulmonary involvement in patients affected by connective tissues diseases (CTDs). Few studies have been performed to support its usefulness in the evaluation of the presence and the severity of interstitial lung disease (ILD), relating it to the information obtained with chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). These results open up new fields of research in order to demonstrate the utility of LUS as screening tool to evaluate ILD in CTD. The aim of this review is to provide the "state of the art" of the role of LUS in the management of ILD associated with CTD.

Ultrasound in the Assessment of Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis: A Systematic Literature Review by the OMERACT Ultrasound Group

OBJECTIVE

To provide an overview of the role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in the assessment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to discuss the state of validation supporting its clinical relevance and application in daily clinical practice.

METHODS

Original articles published between January 1997 and October 2017 were included. To identify all available studies, a detailed search pertaining to the topic of review was conducted according to guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A systematic search was performed in PubMed and EMBASE. The quality assessment of retrieved articles was performed according to the Oxford Center for Evidence-based Medicine. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool.

RESULTS

From 300 papers identified, 12 were included for the analysis. LUS passed the filter of face, content validity, and feasibility. However, there is insufficient evidence to support criterion validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change.

CONCLUSION

Despite a great deal of work supporting the potential role of LUS for the assessment of ILD-SSc, much remains to be done before validating its use as an outcome measure in ILD-SSc.

A simplified lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease in connective tissue disease: a meta-analysis

Background

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common complication of connective tissue disease (CTD) and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. There are various lung ultrasound (LUS) scoring systems with different lung intercostal spaces (LIS). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to find a simplified LUS method for the assessment of CTD-ILD.

Methods

We systematically retrieved lung ultrasound diagnostic studies on CTD-ILD in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Summary diagnostic accuracy, including sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC), was analyzed. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to different LIS and diseases.

Results

The 11 studies included in this meta-analysis comprised a total of 487 patients with CTD. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the LUS were 0.859 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.812–0.898) and 0.839 (95% CI 0.782–0.886), respectively, illustrating its great value for CTD-ILD diagnosis. In addition, there were six methods to evaluate LIS, including 72, 65, 50, 14, 10, and all LIS. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of 14 LIS were 0.982 (95% CI 0.904–1.000) and 0.875 (95% CI 0.710–0.965), respectively. The pooled positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odd ratio (DOR) of 14 LIS were 7.297 (95% CI 6.050–17.45), 0.029 (95% CI 0.006–0.147), and 292.30 (95% CI 35.53–2403.8), respectively. Moreover, the AUC for systemic sclerosis (SSc) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was 0.929 and 0.981, respectively; the DOR for SSc and RA was 42.93 (95% CI 17.75–103.79) and 80.24 (95% CI 8.107–796.09), respectively.

Conclusions

We found a modified and simplified method of LUS, by scanning 14 LIS in a short time, which had a very high sensitivity and specificity.

Usefulness of lung ultrasound B-lines in connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease: a literature review

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a major pulmonary manifestation of connective tissue disease (CTD), leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is presently considered the diagnostic gold standard for pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis and quantification in the clinical arena. However, not negligible doses of ionizing radiation limit the use of HRCT, especially for serial follow-up in younger female patients. In the past decade, lung ultrasound (LUS) has been proposed to assess ILD by detecting and quantifying sonographic B-lines. Previous studies demonstrate that B-lines have a good diagnostic accuracy, especially high sensitivity, and correlate well with HRCT findings, suggesting LUS as a novel, non-invasive, and non-ionizing imaging method to be used in patients with CTD-ILD. Although preliminary data are promising, challenges and controversies still remain. For example, the mechanisms of B-line generation are not fully understood; the diagnostic accuracy and performance characteristics of LUS partially depend on the scanning scheme and scoring system used; and up-to-date B-lines cannot discriminate the early cellular inflammation from the chronic fibrotic phase in CTD-ILD. Therefore it is important for clinicians to understand the strengths and limitations of LUS in CTD-ILD patients, to maximize its value.

Ultrasound in the interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Can it facilitate a best routine assessment in rheumatic disorders?

Ultrasound (US) is increasing its potential in the assessment of several rheumatic disorders. Recently, different applications of this imaging technique have emerged. Interesting data supporting its utility and validity in the assessment of the lung to detect and quantify interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in rheumatic diseases, even in subclinical phases, have been reported. The main purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the role of US in the assessment of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in rheumatic disorders and to discuss the current evidence supporting its clinical relevance in daily clinical practice.

Ultrasonography for clinical decision-making and intervention in airway management: from the mouth to the lungs and pleurae

OBJECTIVES

To create a state-of-the-art overview of the new and expanding role of ultrasonography in clinical decision-making, intervention and management of the upper and lower airways, that is clinically relevant, up-to-date and practically useful for clinicians.

METHODS

This is a narrative review combined with a structured Medline literature search.

RESULTS

Ultrasonography can be utilised to predict airway difficulty during induction of anaesthesia, evaluate if the stomach is empty or possesses gastric content that poses an aspiration risk, localise the essential cricothyroid membrane prior to difficult airway management, perform nerve blocks for awake intubation, confirm tracheal or oesophageal intubation and facilitate localisation of tracheal rings for tracheostomy. Ultrasonography is an excellent diagnostic tool in intraoperative and emergency diagnosis of pneumothorax. It also enables diagnosis and treatment of interstitial syndrome, lung consolidation, atelectasis, pleural effusion and differentiates causes of acute breathlessness during pregnancy. Patient safety can be enhanced by performing procedures under ultrasound guidance, e.g. thoracocentesis, vascular line access and help guide timing of removal of chest tubes by quantification of residual pneumothorax size.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasonography used in conjunction with hands-on management of the upper and lower airways has multiple advantages. There is a rapidly growing body of evidence showing its benefits.

TEACHING POINTS

• Ultrasonography is becoming essential in management of the upper and lower airways. • The tracheal structures can be identified by ultrasonography, even when unidentifiable by palpation. • Ultrasonography is the primary diagnostic approach in suspicion of intraoperative pneumothorax. • Point-of-care ultrasonography of the airways has a steep learning curve. • Lung ultrasonography allows treatment of interstitial syndrome, consolidation, atelectasis and effusion.

Lung ultrasound in community-acquired pneumonia and in interstitial lung diseases

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an accurate tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of pneumonia in adults as well as in children. LUS is at least as accurate as chest radiography in diagnosing pneumonia. The most important parenchymal criterion is the positive air bronchogram within an echopoor area. Among pleural criteria, basal effusion was most often detected. The presence of multiple diffuse bilateral B-lines on lung examination indicates the interstitial syndrome (IS). For further differential diagnosis, an integrated consideration of history, clinical examination, LUS and echocardiography should be performed. LUS is an excellent tool for IS screening. Repeated LUS control examinations may reflect the dynamics of IS under therapy and so LUS may serve as a therapy guide. .