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Santos-Moreno P, Alvis-Zakzuk NJ, Castillo E, Villarreal L, Pineda C, Sandoval H, Valencia O. Quantifying Potential Cost-Savings Through an Alternative Imaging-Based Diagnostic Process in Presumptive Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2021; 13:519-529. [PMID: 34168469 PMCID: PMC8216755 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s302404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (SRA) is a condition that is not well understood and difficult to confirm by a conventional diagnostic process. We aimed to quantify the potential cost-savings of an alternative diagnostic process (ADP) imaging-based, for patients with presumptive SRA from everyday clinical practice. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis for patients with presumptive SRA who tested negative for both rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, through an ADP imaging-based, that is a standard clinical practice in our center. After we confirmed the diagnosis of SRA or reclassified patients in terms of another proper diagnosis, we estimate direct costs in two scenarios: a conventional and ADP. We compared the cost of RA treatment during the first year against the cost of the most misdiagnosed treatment (osteoarthritis) found after applying the ADP to determine potential cost-savings. Results We included 440 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of SRA. According to the imaging-based ADP, SRA was confirmed in 106/440 (24.1%), unspecified RA in 9/440 (2.0%), and osteoarthritis in 325/440 (73.9%) of those patients. Although the costs of conventional diagnosis per patient is lower than those of ADP ($59,20 USD vs $269,57 USD), we found a potential drug cost-savings of $1,570,775.20 US Dollars after 1 year of correct treatment. Conclusion An alternative diagnosis process, including X-rays, US and MRI imaging, and clinical and blood-test assessment, not only increased diagnostic certainty in patients referred for evaluation of presumptive SRA but also suggested a potential cost-savings in pharmacological treatments avoided in misdiagnosed patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nelson J Alvis-Zakzuk
- Universidad de la Costa-CUC, Departamento de Ciencias Económicas, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Edwin Castillo
- Center of Rheumatoid Arthritis, BIOMAB, Bogota, Colombia
| | | | - Carlos Pineda
- Sociomedical Research Unit, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Hugo Sandoval
- Sociomedical Research Unit, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Omaira Valencia
- Center of Rheumatoid Arthritis, BIOMAB, Bogota, Colombia.,Fundación Santa Fé de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia
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Cipolletta E, Smerilli G, Di Matteo A, Di Battista J, Di Carlo M, Grassi W, Filippucci E. The sonographic identification of cortical bone interruptions in rheumatoid arthritis: a morphological approach. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2021; 13:1759720X211004326. [PMID: 33948124 PMCID: PMC8053750 DOI: 10.1177/1759720x211004326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone erosions are the hallmark of structural damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Among imaging techniques, ultrasonography (US) has emerged as an accurate, reliable, repeatable, low-cost and non-invasive imaging modality to detect erosive changes in RA. However, small interruptions of the cortical bone detectable by last generation US equipment do not necessarily represent bone erosions. According to the available data, in addition to cortical bone interruption itself, only a few morphological US findings have been proposed to define RA bone erosions. However, other additional features may be considered to facilitate the interpretation of US cortical bone interruptions in RA. These could be summarised using the following four domains: size, site, shape and scenery. This hypothesis article provides a critical literature review of US features characteristic of RA bone erosions and pictorial evidence supporting the potential role of a morphological analysis in the US identification of bone erosions in RA patients. Plain language summary The ultrasonographic morphology of cortical interruptions is helpful for the identification of bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis: the "four Ss" approach Bone erosions are characteristic features of rheumatoid arthritis. They are associated with a more aggressive disease and with irreversible physical disability. In recent years, ultrasonography has emerged as an accurate and reliable technique for the detection of bone erosions, that appear as interruptions of the cortical bone with variable size. However, cortical bone interruptions do not necessarily represent bone erosions. Since bone erosions represent the earliest evidence of the destructive behaviour of RA, their identification is crucial.Besides the cortical interruption itself, only a few morphological ultrasonographic features were proposed to characterise bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis.We believe that a morphological approach, including size, site, shape and scenery, may be considered to facilitate the interpretation of ultrasonographic cortical bone interruptions in rheumatoid arthritis.In this hypothesis article we carried out a critical review of the scientific literature and provided extensive pictorial evidence of the ultrasonographic spectrum of cortical interruptions supporting the potential role of considering the "four Ss" for the ultrasonographic identification of bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrea Di Matteo
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, ‘Carlo Urbani’ Hospital, Jesi (Ancona), Italy
| | - Jacopo Di Battista
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, ‘Carlo Urbani’ Hospital, Jesi (Ancona), Italy
| | - Marco Di Carlo
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, ‘Carlo Urbani’ Hospital, Jesi (Ancona), Italy
| | - Walter Grassi
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, ‘Carlo Urbani’ Hospital, Jesi (Ancona), Italy
| | - Emilio Filippucci
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, ‘Carlo Urbani’ Hospital, Jesi (Ancona), Italy
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3
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Gessl I, Balint PV, Filippucci E, Keen HI, Pineda C, Terslev L, Wildner B, D'Agostino MA, Mandl P. Structural damage in rheumatoid arthritis assessed by musculoskeletal ultrasound: A systematic literature review by the Structural Joint Damage Task Force of the OMERACT Ultrasound Working Group. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2021; 51:627-639. [PMID: 33810864 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2021.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify and synthesize the evidence for the use and measurement properties of musculoskeletal ultrasound in assessing structural joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS A systematic literature search (SLR) of the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library was performed. Original articles were included published in English reporting on ultrasound of bone erosion, cartilage damage and the measurement properties of ultrasound according to the OMERACT filter 2.1. RESULTS Of the 1.495 identified articles 149 were included in the final review, most of which reported on cross-sectional studies and used the OMERACT definitions for ultrasonographic pathology. Among these, bone erosions were assessed in 139 (93.3%), cartilage damage in 24 (16.1%), enthesophytes in 8 (5.4%), osteophytes in 15 (10.1%) and malalignment and ankylosis in a single (0.9%) study, respectively. Most studies (126/149, 84.6%) assessed the joints of the hands. The overwhelming majority of studies (127/149, 85.2%) assessed structural joint damage bilaterally. Validity, reliability and responsiveness were assessed in 21 (14.1%), 34 (22.8%) and 17 (11.4%) studies, respectively. CONCLUSION While the results of this SLR suggest that ultrasound is a sensitive, reliable and feasible tool to detect damage in RA, they also highlight the need for further research and validation. Findings of this SLR will inform the next steps of the OMERACT Ultrasound Working Group in developing an ultrasound score for assessing structural joint damage in patients with RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Gessl
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, 18-20 Währinger Gürtel, Vienna, Austria
| | - P V Balint
- 3rd Rheumatology Department, National Institute of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy, Budapest, Hungary
| | - E Filippucci
- Department of Rheumatology, Universita` Politecnica delle Marche, Jesi, Ancona, Italy
| | - H I Keen
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - C Pineda
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Rheumatic Disorders, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - L Terslev
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research and Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - B Wildner
- University Library, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - M A D'Agostino
- Department of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy; UFR Simone Veil, Versailles-Saint-Quentin-Paris Saclay University, Versailles, France
| | - P Mandl
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, 18-20 Währinger Gürtel, Vienna, Austria.
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Wu M, Liu FJ, Chen J, Chen L, Wei C, Hu ZM, Han Y, Lu JX, Jiang LX, Chen HB. Prevalence and Factors Associated With Bone Erosion in Patients With Gout. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2020; 71:1653-1659. [PMID: 30474923 DOI: 10.1002/acr.23816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence, distribution, and factors associated with bone erosion detectable by ultrasound in patients with gout. METHODS Ultrasound scans were performed in 980 patients with gout, and bone erosion was detected. The prevalence and distribution of bone erosion in gout patients were calculated. Both clinical variables and ultrasound signs were entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis to clarify the factors associated with bone erosion in patients with gout. RESULTS Bone erosion was found in 431 (44.0%) of the 980 patients with gout, and in 338 (78.4%) of these patients, the bone erosion was found in the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age, duration of gout, the existence of tophi, ultrasound-detected synovial hypertrophy, and joint effusion were independently associated with bone erosion. A tophus was the most powerful factor associated with bone erosion, with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.218 (95% confidence interval 3.092-5.731). The risk for bone erosion also increased as the number of tophi increased (P < 0.001). However, after stratifying the size of tophi, the ORs did not increase significantly (P = 0.206). CONCLUSION A high percentage of gout patients had bone erosions; the first MTP joint was the most frequently involved site. Age, duration of gout, tophi, and synovial hypertrophy were factors associated with bone erosion in gout patients. The number of tophi, but not their size, was strongly associated with bone erosion in patients with gout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mian Wu
- Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng J Liu
- Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Chen
- Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Chong Wei
- Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhu M Hu
- Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Han
- Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun X Lu
- Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Li X Jiang
- Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai B Chen
- Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
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Lu CH, Hsiao YF, Hsu HC, Ko YL, Lin TS, Chen LF, Hsieh SC, Li KJ. Can ultrasound differentiate acute erosive arthritis associated with osteomyelitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gouty arthritis? Int J Rheum Dis 2019; 22:1972-1977. [PMID: 31364282 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185x.13672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2017] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM The study intended to determine the specific ultrasonographic features of acute arthritis with periarticular bone erosions caused by acute osteomyelitis (OM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gouty arthritis (GA). METHOD We included 33 patients (seven with acute OM, 18 with RA flares, and eight with GA attacks) having acute monoarthritis or oligoarthritis, and receiving ultrasound (US) examinations in the acute stage. The US images were rated by three rheumatologists blinded to the diagnosis. The median scores of their evaluation of the subcutaneous tissue, periosteum, and synovium were compared. Interrater reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS The highest mean grade of subcutaneous edema appeared in patients with acute OM, and grade 2 edema was more frequent than patients with RA and GA (P = .003 and P = .026, respectively; α = .869). The prevalence of subcutaneous power Doppler signal was also higher in patients with acute OM than in those with RA and GA (P < .001 and P = .041, respectively; α = .756). Periosteal vascularity presented more frequently in acute OM (P = .003 compared with RA; P = .041 compared with GA), but the interrater reliability was poor (α = .518). The tophaceous material in GA was distinctive from OM and RA (P = .010 and P < .001, respectively; α = .774). CONCLUSION The most discriminative US features in this study were the subcutaneous tissue changes in addition to the periosteal findings. US could contribute to the differential diagnosis of acute erosive arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hsun Lu
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Fen Hsiao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chu-Shang Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, Nantou, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ching Hsu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Lin Ko
- Department of Internal Medicine, Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Syuan Lin
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan
| | - Lung-Fang Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Song-Chou Hsieh
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ko-Jen Li
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Henchie TF, Gravallese EM, Bredbenner TL, Troy KL. An image-based method to measure joint deformity in inflammatory arthritis: development and pilot study. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2019; 22:942-952. [PMID: 31064209 DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2019.1607315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying joint deformity in people with rheumatoid (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate a new method to measure bone erosions and abnormal periosteal growths, based on the difference between a predicted healthy and actual diseased joint surface. We optimized the method by creating and measuring artificial bone erosions and growths. Then we measured 46 healthy and diseased patient surfaces. We found average sensitivity errors of ≤0.27 mm when measuring artificial erosions and growths. Patients had significantly more bone erosion than healthy subjects. Surface based outcomes are a novel way to interpret and quantify bone changes in PsA and RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis F Henchie
- a Department of Biomedical Engineering , Worcester Polytechnic Institute , Worcester , Massachusetts , USA
| | - Ellen M Gravallese
- b Division of Rheumatology , University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center and University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester , Massachusetts , USA
| | - Todd L Bredbenner
- c Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , University of Colorado Colorado Springs , Colorado Springs , Colorado , USA
| | - Karen L Troy
- a Department of Biomedical Engineering , Worcester Polytechnic Institute , Worcester , Massachusetts , USA
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Stewart S, Dalbeth N, Vandal AC, Allen B, Miranda R, Rome K. Ultrasound Features of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint in Gout and Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia: Comparison With Normouricemic Individuals. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2017; 69:875-883. [PMID: 27635596 DOI: 10.1002/acr.23082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The first metatarsophalangeal (MTP1) joint is frequently affected in gout. The aim of this study was to identify ultrasound features of the MTP1 joint in people with gout and people with asymptomatic hyperuricemia compared with normouricemic controls. METHODS Participants with gout (n = 23) and asymptomatic hyperuricemia (n = 29), and age- and sex-matched normouricemic control participants (n = 34), underwent a gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound assessment of bilateral MTP1 joints by a single musculoskeletal radiologist. No participants had clinical evidence of joint inflammation at the time of scanning. The static images were later read by 2 musculoskeletal radiologists for the presence of the double contour sign, tophus, erosion, effusion, synovial hypertrophy, synovitis, and cartilage thickness. RESULTS Compared to normouricemic control participants, participants with gout and participants with asymptomatic hyperuricemia had more frequent double contour sign (odds ratio [OR] 3.91, P = 0.011 and OR 3.81, P = 0.009, respectively). Participants with gout also had more erosion (OR 10.13, P = 0.001) and synovitis (OR 9.00, P < 0.001) and had greater tophus and erosion diameters (P = 0.035 and P < 0.001, respectively). More severe erosion and synovitis grades and a less severe effusion grade were independently associated with gout compared with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (R2 = 0.65, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Urate deposition, synovitis, and bone erosion are common at the MTP1 joint in people with gout, even in the absence of flare. Although individuals with asymptomatic hyperuricemia lack ultrasound features of inflammation or structural joint changes, they demonstrate a similar frequency of urate deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Stewart
- Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nicola Dalbeth
- The University of Auckland and Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Alain C Vandal
- Auckland University of Technology and Health Intelligence & Informatics, Ko Awatea, Counties Manukau Health, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Bruce Allen
- Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rhian Miranda
- Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Keith Rome
- Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
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