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Gessl I, Sakellariou G, Wildner B, Filippou G, Mandl P, D'Agostino MA, Navarro-Compán V. Systematic literature review to inform the EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in crystal-induced arthropathies in clinical practice. Ann Rheum Dis 2024; 83:1208-1224. [PMID: 38702175 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-225247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarise current data regarding the use of imaging in crystal-induced arthropathies (CiAs) informing a European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology task force. METHODS We performed four systematic searches in Embase, Medline and Central on imaging for diagnosis, monitoring, prediction of disease severity/treatment response, guiding procedures and patient education in gout, calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition (CPPD) and basic calcium phosphate deposition (BCPD). Records were screened, manuscripts reviewed and data of the included studies extracted. The risk of bias was assessed by validated instruments. RESULTS For gout, 88 studies were included. Diagnostic studies reported good to excellent sensitivity and specificity of dual-energy CT (DECT) and ultrasound (US), high specificity and lower sensitivity for conventional radiographs (CR) and CT. Longitudinal studies demonstrated sensitivity to change with regard to crystal deposition by US and DECT and inflammation by US and structural progression by CR and CT. For CPPD, 50 studies were included. Diagnostic studies on CR and US showed high specificity and variable sensitivity. There was a single study on monitoring, while nine assessed the prediction in CPPD. For BCPD, 56 studies were included. There were two diagnostic studies, while monitoring by CR and US was assessed in 43 studies, showing a reduction in crystal deposition. A total of 12 studies with inconsistent results assessed the prediction of treatment response. The search on patient education retrieved two studies, suggesting a potential role of DECT. CONCLUSION This SLR confirmed a relevant and increasing role of imaging in the field of CiAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Gessl
- Division of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Garifallia Sakellariou
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA SB IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Georgios Filippou
- Rheumatology, IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi - Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Peter Mandl
- Division of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine 3, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Antonietta D'Agostino
- Rheumatology Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCSS, Rome, Italy
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Tabi-Amponsah AD, Stewart S, Gamble G, Doyle AJ, Billington K, Son CN, Latto K, Stamp LK, Taylor WJ, Horne A, Dalbeth N. Baseline Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Urate Volume Predicts Fulfillment of Gout Remission After Two Years of Urate-Lowering Therapy. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2024. [PMID: 39135446 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify variables that predict gout remission in people with erosive gout receiving urate-lowering therapy. METHODS We analyzed data from a two-year, double-masked randomized-controlled trial of people with erosive gout, randomized to a serum urate target of <0.20 mmol/L or <0.30 mmol/L using oral urate-lowering therapies. All participants had dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) scans of the feet and ankles at baseline. The proportion of participants achieving gout remission according to the 2016 preliminary gout remission criteria and simplified gout remission criteria (without the patient reported outcomes) was analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate predictors of gout remission in year 2. RESULTS The preliminary gout remission criteria were fulfilled in 11 of 97 participants (11%) at year 1 and 21 of 92 participants (23%) at year 2. The simplified criteria were fulfilled in 26 of 97 participants (27%) in year 1 and 40 of 92 participants (44%) in year 2. In multivariable regression models, baseline DECT monosodium urate crystal volume was the only significant independent predictor of gout remission at year 2, using either criteria. Each 1-cm3 increase in the baseline DECT monosodium urate crystal volume decreased the odds of fulfilling the 2016 preliminary gout remission criteria (odds ratio [OR] 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.46-0.93; P = 0.02) and the simplified gout remission criteria (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41-0.78; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION In people with erosive gout on urate-lowering therapy, higher baseline DECT monosodium urate crystal volume is associated with lower odds of gout remission after two years of treatment, defined by either the preliminary gout remission criteria or simplified gout remission criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Stewart
- University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Greg Gamble
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Anthony J Doyle
- Auckland District Health Board and University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Chang-Nam Son
- Eulji University School of Medicine, Uijeongbu, South Korea
| | | | - Lisa K Stamp
- University of Otago, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | | | - Anne Horne
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Han L, Li R, Dalbeth N, Liu M, Yu Q, Jiang C, Ning C, Liu Z, He Y, Li M, Xue X, Jia F, Jia Z, Sun W, Zhang H, Lu J, Wang C, Li C. The value of musculoskeletal ultrasound in predicting gout flares in index joints: A prospective cohort study of people with gout starting urate-lowering therapy. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2024; 67:152418. [PMID: 38422901 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether ultrasound findings of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition predict frequent gout flares in index joints over 12 months. METHODS This single-center study enrolled people with at least one gout flare involving the MTP1, ankle or knee joint. The most painful or most frequently joint was identified as index joint for analysis. All participants were started on urate-lowering therapy and had an ultrasound scan of the index joints at the baseline visit. OMERACT scores (for tophus, double contour sign and aggregates) were used to analyze whether ultrasound scores predicted frequent (≥2) gout flares in the index joint over 12 months. RESULTS Frequent flares were significantly higher in those with ultrasound findings in all index joints (MTP1: tophus: 85.0% vs 46.0%, P < 0.001, aggregates: 78.8% vs 59.0%, P < 0.01; ankle: tophus: 54.6% vs 20.8%, P < 0.001; aggregates: 60.0% vs 35.9%, P < 0.05; knee: tophus: 68.4% vs 28.6%, P < 0.05). For the MTP1, for each 1-point increase in tophus score, the odds of frequent gout flares increased by 5.19 [(95%CI: 1.26-21.41), 7.91 [(95%CI: 2.23-28.14), and 13.79 [(95%CI: 3.79-50.20)] fold respectively. For the ankle, a tophus score of 3 markedly improved the prediction of the frequent flares [OR= 9.24 (95%CI=2.85-29.91)]. Semi-quantitative sum scores were associated with frequent flares with an OR (95%CI) of 13.66 (3.44-54.18), P < 0.001 at the MTP1, 7.05 (1.98-25.12), P < 0.001 at the ankle. CONCLUSION Ultrasound features of MSU crystal deposition at the MTP1 and knee predict subsequent risk of frequent gout flares in the same joints following initiation of urate-lowering therapy, with the highest risk in those with high tophus scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Han
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Runze Li
- Department of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Nicola Dalbeth
- Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Mingdi Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (Qingdao Hiser Hospital), Qingdao, PR China
| | - Qing Yu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Caiyun Jiang
- Department of Ultrasound, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Chunping Ning
- Department of Ultrasound, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Yuwei He
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Maichao Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Xiaomei Xue
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Fenghao Jia
- Department of Psychiatry, Xi 'an Medical University, Xi 'an, PR China
| | - Zhaotong Jia
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Wenyan Sun
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Jie Lu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Can Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Changgui Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases and Qingdao Key Laboratory of Gout, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, PR China.
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Lin TM, Lee HY, Chang CK, Lin KH, Chang CC, Wu BF, Peng SJ. Identification of tophi in ultrasound imaging based on transfer learning and clinical practice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12507. [PMID: 37532752 PMCID: PMC10397312 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39508-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Gout is a common metabolic disorder characterized by deposits of monosodium urate monohydrate crystals (tophi) in soft tissue, triggering intense and acute arthritis with intolerable pain as well as articular and periarticular inflammation. Tophi can also promote chronic inflammatory and erosive arthritis. 2015 ACR/EULAR Gout Classification criteria include clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, where cases of gout are indicated by a threshold score of ≥ 8. Some imaging-related findings, such as a double contour sign in ultrasound, urate in dual-energy computed tomography, or radiographic gout-related erosion, generate a score of up to 4. Clearly, the diagnosis of gout is largely assisted by imaging findings; however, dual-energy computed tomography is expensive and exposes the patient to high levels of radiation. Although musculoskeletal ultrasound is non-invasive and inexpensive, the reliability of the results depends on expert experience. In the current study, we applied transfer learning to train a convolutional neural network for the identification of tophi in ultrasound images. The accuracy of predictions varied with the convolutional neural network model, as follows: InceptionV3 (0.871 ± 0.020), ResNet101 (0.913 ± 0.015), and VGG19 (0.918 ± 0.020). The sensitivity was as follows: InceptionV3 (0.507 ± 0.060), ResNet101 (0.680 ± 0.056), and VGG19 (0.747 ± 0.056). The precision was as follows: InceptionV3 (0.767 ± 0.091), ResNet101 (0.863 ± 0.098), and VGG19 (0.825 ± 0.062). Our results demonstrate that it is possible to retrain deep convolutional neural networks to identify the patterns of tophi in ultrasound images with a high degree of accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Min Lin
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Yen Lee
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Kuei Chang
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ke-Hung Lin
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Ching Chang
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Fei Wu
- Institute of Electrical and Control Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Syu-Jyun Peng
- Professional Master Program in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wuxing St., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City, 110, Taiwan.
- Clinical Big Data Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Tabi-Amponsah AD, Stewart S, Hosie G, Stamp LK, Taylor WJ, Dalbeth N. Gout Remission as a Goal of Urate-Lowering Therapy: A Critical Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:779. [PMID: 37375727 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Urate-lowering therapies for the management of gout lead to a reduction in serum urate levels, monosodium urate crystal deposition, and the clinical features of gout, including painful and disabling gout flares, chronic gouty arthritis, and tophi. Thus, disease remission is a potential goal of urate-lowering therapy. In 2016, preliminary gout remission criteria were developed by a large group of rheumatologists and researchers with expertise in gout. The preliminary gout remission criteria were defined as: serum urate < 0.36 mmol/L (6 mg/dL); an absence of gout flares; an absence of tophi; pain due to gout < 2 on a 0-10 scale; and a patient global assessment < 2 on a 0-10 scale over a 12-month period. In this critical review, we describe the development of the preliminary gout remission criteria, the properties of the preliminary gout remission criteria, and clinical studies of gout remission in people taking urate-lowering therapy. We also describe a future research agenda for gout remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adwoa Dansoa Tabi-Amponsah
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Sarah Stewart
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 0627, New Zealand
| | - Graham Hosie
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Lisa K Stamp
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
| | - William J Taylor
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
| | - Nicola Dalbeth
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
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Cipolletta E, Abhishek A, Di Matteo A, Grassi W, Filippucci E. Dynamic assessment of the double contour sign by ultrasonography helps to distinguish between gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease. RMD Open 2023; 9:rmdopen-2022-002940. [PMID: 36927850 PMCID: PMC10030737 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test whether the double contour (DC) sign has a different dynamic behaviour in gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) and whether the dynamic assessment of the DC sign increases its accuracy in gout diagnosis. METHODS This cross-sectional analysis included patients with gout meeting the 2015 ACR/EULAR classification criteria and patients with crystal-proven diagnosis of CPPD. Hyaline cartilages were explored by ultrasound (US) to detect the DC sign (ie, abnormal hyperechoic band over the superficial margin of hyaline cartilages) and its dynamic behaviour during joint movement was evaluated ((ie, movement of the DC sign together with subchondral bone (DC sign), or in the opposite direction (pseudo DC sign)). RESULTS Eighty-one patients with gout and 84 patients with CPPD underwent US assessment. Among them, 47 patients with gout and 9 patients with CPPD had evidence of the DC sign. During dynamic assessment, in all 47/47 patients with gout there was a DC sign. Conversely, in 7/9 (77.8%) patients with CPPD, there was a pseudo DC sign (p<0.01).The presence of DC sign during static assessment had a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 58.0% (95% CI 46.5% to 68.9%), 89.3% (95% CI 80.6% to 95.0%) and 73.9% (95% CI 66.5% to 80.5%) for gout, respectively. The dynamic evaluation improved the DC sign's diagnostic performance (p=0.01) as the specificity (97.6% (95% CI 91.7% to 99.7%)) and the accuracy (78.2% (95% CI 71.1% to 84.2%)) increased without loss in sensitivity. CONCLUSION The dynamic US assessment of the DC sign may help to differentiate the DC sign due to MSU crystals from the pseudo DC sign seen in CPPD, as they move in opposite directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Cipolletta
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
- Academic Rheumatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Andrea Di Matteo
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Walter Grassi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Emilio Filippucci
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
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Cipolletta E, Abhishek A, Di Battista J, Grassi W, Filippucci E. Ultrasonography in the prediction of gout flares: a 12-month prospective observational study. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2023; 62:1108-1116. [PMID: 35920773 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether US findings indicating MSU deposits and US-detected inflammation (i.e. power Doppler signal) predict gout flares over 12 months. METHODS Gout patients on urate-lowering therapy for at least the preceding 6 months were enrolled consecutively in this 12-month prospective, observational, single-centre study. A nested case-control analysis was performed. Cases were participants with at least one flare in the follow-up period, while controls did not self-report any gout flare. The US assessment included elbows, wrists, second MCP joints, knees, ankles, and first MTP joints. The US findings indicating MSU deposits [i.e. aggregates, double contour (DC) sign and tophi] were identified as present/absent according to the Outcome Measure in Rheumatology definitions. Power Doppler signal was scored semiquantitatively. Summated scores were calculated for each US finding. RESULTS Eighty-one gout participants were enrolled, and 71 completed the study. Thirty (42.3%) of 71 participants experienced at least one flare over 12 months, with a median of 2.0 flares. Cases had a greater US burden of MSU deposits (6.7 ± 4.7 vs 2.9 ± 2.6, P = 0.01) and power Doppler signal (3.73 ± 3.53 vs 0.82 ± 1.44, P < 0.01) than controls, at baseline. The baseline US scores indicating MSU deposits and US-detected inflammation were significantly associated with the occurrence (total MSU score, adjusted odds ratio:1.75, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.43; power Doppler score, adjusted odds ratio: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.40) and the number (total MSU score, adjusted incidence risk ratio: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.26; power Doppler score, adjusted incidence risk ratio: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.40) of flares over 12 months in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS Baseline US findings indicating MSU deposits and US-detected inflammation are independent predictors of gout flares over 12 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Cipolletta
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Rheumatology Unit, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.,Academic Rheumatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Jacopo Di Battista
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Rheumatology Unit, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Walter Grassi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Rheumatology Unit, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Emilio Filippucci
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Rheumatology Unit, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
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Calabuig I, Martínez-Sanchis A, Andrés M. Sonographic Tophi and Inflammation Are Associated With Carotid Atheroma Plaques in Gout. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 8:795984. [PMID: 34977097 PMCID: PMC8716736 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.795984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Gout and cardiovascular disease are closely related, but the mechanism connecting them remains unknown. This study aims to explore whether urate crystal deposits and inflammation (assessed by ultrasound) are associated with carotid atherosclerosis. Methods: We included consecutive patients with crystal-proven gout newly presenting to a tertiary rheumatology unit. Patients under urate-lowering treatment were excluded. Ultrasound assessment was performed during intercritical periods. Musculoskeletal scans evaluated six joints and four tendons for urate crystal deposits (double contour, aggregates, and tophi), and power Doppler (PD) signal (graded 0–3) as a marker of local inflammation. The sum of locations showing deposits or a positive PD signal (≥1) was registered. Carotids were scanned for increased intima-media thickness (IMT) and atheroma plaques, according to the Mannheim consensus. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: The study included 103 patients showing sonographic crystal deposits at the examined locations (mean sum 9.9, minimum 2); tophi were the most frequent. Two-thirds of participants presented a positive PD signal (30.1% grade 2–3). In the carotid scans, 59.2% of participants showed atheroma plaques, and 33.0% increased IMT. Tophi (odds ratio [OR] 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.50) and a positive PD signal (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.09–2.56) were significantly associated with atheroma plaques, while an increased IMT showed no sonographic association. Conclusion: Sonographic crystal deposits and subclinical inflammation were consistently observed in patients with intercritical gout. Tophi and a positive PD signal were linked to carotid atherosclerosis. Our findings may contribute to understanding the complex relationship between gout and atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Calabuig
- Sección de Reumatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain
| | - Agustín Martínez-Sanchis
- Sección de Reumatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain
| | - Mariano Andrés
- Sección de Reumatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
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Weaver JS, Vina ER, Munk PL, Klauser AS, Elifritz JM, Taljanovic MS. Gouty Arthropathy: Review of Clinical Manifestations and Treatment, with Emphasis on Imaging. J Clin Med 2021; 11:jcm11010166. [PMID: 35011907 PMCID: PMC8745871 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11010166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gout, a crystalline arthropathy caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in the articular and periarticular soft tissues, is a frequent cause of painful arthropathy. Imaging has an important role in the initial evaluation as well as the treatment and follow up of gouty arthropathy. The imaging findings of gouty arthropathy on radiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, dual energy computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are described to include findings of the early, acute and chronic phases of gout. These findings include early monosodium urate deposits, osseous erosions, and tophi, which may involve periarticular tissues, tendons, and bursae. Treatment of gout includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, colchicine, glucocorticoids, interleukin-1 inhibitors, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, uricosuric drugs, and recombinant uricase. Imaging is critical in monitoring response to therapy; clinical management can be modulated based on imaging findings. This review article describes the current standard of care in imaging and treatment of gouty arthropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S. Weaver
- Department of Radiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Ernest R. Vina
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Arthritis Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA;
| | - Peter L. Munk
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
- Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Andrea S. Klauser
- Radiology Department, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Jamie M. Elifritz
- Departments of Radiology and Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA;
- New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Mihra S. Taljanovic
- Department of Radiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA;
- Departments of Medical Imaging and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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