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Kulaksız B, Palamar D, Misirlioglu TO, Akgun K, Terlemez R. Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Nail Involvement in Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2024; 43:967-978. [PMID: 38323351 DOI: 10.1002/jum.16426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the nail units of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) using ultrasound and to identify any subclinical changes. We also aimed to examine the relationship between clinical enthesitis scores and nail involvement in patients with ax-SpA. METHODS The study included 40 patients with ax-Spa, 40 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and 40 healthy controls. The thickness of the nail plates, morphological changes, the thickness of the proximal nail units, the thickness of the nail beds, and power Doppler signal intensities were evaluated and compared. Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score and Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada Enthesitis Index were also evaluated in patients with ax-SpA. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the thickness of the nail plates of the three groups (P > .05). The first nail bed thickness of ax-SpA cases was significantly higher than the control group (P = .046), and the fourth and fifth nail proximal unit thicknesses of the control group were significantly lower than the ax-SpA and PsA groups (P = .023, P = .017). We also found that the Wortsman scores of the cases with PsA were significantly higher than the ax-SpA and control groups (P = .0001). CONCLUSION The thickness of the proximal nail unit adjacent to the insertion of the digital extensor tendon, which is considered as the enthesis area, is similar to the patients with PsA in patients with ax-SpA, especially in the fourth and fifth fingers compared to the control group. On the other hand, almost no structural changes in nail plates were observed in patients with ax-SpA group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Kulaksız
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Deniz Palamar
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tugce Ozekli Misirlioglu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Kenan Akgun
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Rana Terlemez
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
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Tanaka AA, Werner B, Bragatto ACB, Skare TL, Stadler B. Ultrasonographic and power doppler parameters of nails fail to differentiate between onychodystrophy in patients with psoriasis vulgaris or psoriatic arthritis. Adv Rheumatol 2024; 64:25. [PMID: 38605415 DOI: 10.1186/s42358-024-00367-x] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nail involvement is frequent in patients with psoriasis (Pso) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and there is a relationship between nail involvement and inflammation of the enthesis. The main objective of the present study is to describe the ultrasound findings and clinical characteristics of nails from patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis with and without nail dystrophy. METHODS A cross-sectional study including consecutive patients with PsO and PsA was carried out. The study patients were divided into 4 groups, totaling 120 participants. Group 1: patients with psoriasis vulgaris and clinically normal nails; Group 2: patients with psoriasis vulgaris and onychodystrophy; Group 3: patients with psoriatic arthritis and clinically normal nails; Group 4: patients with psoriatic arthritis and onychodystrophy; All patients were submitted to dermatological and rheumatological clinical analysis. Ultrasound examinations was performed by a single examiner, blinded to all clinical data, with ultrasound high resolution, in B-mode or gray-scale (GS), Power Doppler (PD) and Spectral Doppler. RESULTS A significant difference was found between the groups regarding the variable Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (p = 0.008) and body surface area (BSA) (p = 0.005), with patients with psoriatic arthritis having lower PASI and BSA compared to patients with only cutaneous psoriasis. A positive relationship was found with the average ultrasound thickness of the nail bed and the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) in correlation analysis (rho = 0.344). When we grouped patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, there was no significant difference between the cutaneous psoriasis groups and the psoriatic arthritis groups in terms of nail plate GS (p = 0.442), nail bed PD (p = 0.124). CONCLUSION Greater nail bed thickness indicates early psoriatic nail disease, as confirmed in our study correlating NAPSI with nail bed thickness. Ultrasonography is a low-cost exam, promising in the evaluation, showing that the ultrasound grayscale is consistent with those who have dystrophic nails, but it can't distinguish psoriasis from psoriatic arthritis, even in those with nail dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anber Ancel Tanaka
- Dermatology Service, Mackenzie Evangelical University Hospital, Avenida Sete de Setembro 4698 Sala 201, CEP: 80730-320, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
| | - Betina Werner
- Post-graduate Program - Internal Medicine and Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- Department of Pathology, Clinics Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Annelise Correa Bueno Bragatto
- Dermatology Service, Mackenzie Evangelical University Hospital, Avenida Sete de Setembro 4698 Sala 201, CEP: 80730-320, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Thelma Larocca Skare
- Reumathology Service, Mackenzie Evangelical University Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Stadler
- Reumathology Service, Mackenzie Evangelical University Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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López Ripado O, Villar Rodríguez J, Mingorance Álvarez E, Pérez Pico AM, García Nogales A, Mayordomo Acevedo R. Ultrasound clinical references of the healthy toenail unit. Clin Anat 2024; 37:366-374. [PMID: 38351855 DOI: 10.1002/ca.24145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
The toenail unit, commonly called the nail, is one of the most frequently examined and treated structures in clinical podiatry. Ultrasound is a standard clinical technique because it is a noninvasive, painless, and rapid diagnostic tool. The main objective of this study was to obtain morphometric data of the healthy toenail unit by ultrasound for clinical application. The nails of 76 participants (152 hallux nails; 38 men, 38 women, average age 26.83 ± 12.20) were examined using a VINNO E35 ultrasound system and an X6-16L linear probe with a frequency of 18 MHz. Five ultrasound measures of the healthy toenail unit were obtained, of which only the distance from the center of the distal phalange to the nail plate varied with age, sex, weight, and foot (p-values ≤ 0.050). The other four parameters were less influenced by the variables analyzed, except sex, which influenced nearly all (p-values ≤ 0.050). In one of these variables, indications of significance were observed (p-values = 0.060), with greater distances in the men than in the women, except for nail plate curvature, which showed a higher value. The other variables studied did not influence the parameters analyzed. High-frequency ultrasound can be used to examine the healthy toenail unit and define anthropometric reference measurements that can be used for more accurate and comparative diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga López Ripado
- Department of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology, University Centre of Plasencia, University of Extremadura, Plasencia, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Julia Villar Rodríguez
- Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Castilla la Mancha, Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain
| | - Esther Mingorance Álvarez
- Department of Physiology, University Centre of Mérida, University of Extremadura, Mérida, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Ana Mª Pérez Pico
- Department of Nursing, University Centre of Plasencia, University of Extremadura, Plasencia, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Agustín García Nogales
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Centre of Plasencia, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Raquel Mayordomo Acevedo
- Department of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology, University Centre of Plasencia, University of Extremadura, Plasencia, Cáceres, Spain
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Agache M, Popescu CC, Enache L, Dumitrescu BM, Codreanu C. Nail Ultrasound in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis-A Narrative Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:2236. [PMID: 37443629 PMCID: PMC10341279 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13132236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonography has advantages for assessing psoriatic arthritis (PsA) due to its ability to evaluate several targets, including joints, entheses, and tendons, but also skin and nails. Although ultrasound is widely used in PsA, nail ultrasound, despite its potential as a non-invasive method for the early detection of inflammation in the nail apparatus, has low applicability in medical practice, as probes with a higher frequency are needed compared with the frequency of probes usually used. In the present article, we have narratively evaluated the studies published in the last 5 years (19 February 2018-18 February 2023) on nail ultrasound value in the diagnosis and monitoring of PsA. The studies published during this period share common measurement parameters, such as the OMERACT definition of enthesis published in 2018. We included original articles published in PubMed and Web of Science using the following search terms in all possible combinations: psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, ultrasound, and nail. Articles were declared relevant if they presented data on nail morphology, power Doppler evaluation and nearby structure evaluation, while focusing on digitorum extensor enthesitis. In most of the studies, common morphological parameters were generally increased in patients with psoriasis or PsA and were demonstrated to change with medication. The thickness of the extensor tendon was greater in patients with PsA and psoriasis versus controls and it was correlated with nail clinical changes, especially the presence of onycholysis. The presence of PD showed large variability in healthy individuals. The link between enthesitis and nail involvement is still a subject of controversy, taking into account the latest histological findings. The use of ultrasound in the evaluation of nail and DIP enthesitis remains a challenge and an area of research in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Agache
- Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania (C.C.)
- Clinical Center of Rheumatic Diseases, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Claudiu C. Popescu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania (C.C.)
- Clinical Center of Rheumatic Diseases, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Luminița Enache
- Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania (C.C.)
- Clinical Center of Rheumatic Diseases, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Bianca M. Dumitrescu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania (C.C.)
- Clinical Center of Rheumatic Diseases, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cătălin Codreanu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania (C.C.)
- Clinical Center of Rheumatic Diseases, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
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Pritulo OA, Petrov AA. Comprehensive assessment of the dynamics of angiogenesis in patients with psoriasis treated with methotrexate. VESTNIK DERMATOLOGII I VENEROLOGII 2023. [DOI: 10.25208/vdv1387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: evaluation of the severity of pathological angiogenesis in patients with psoriasis can be considered as a promising direction for monitoring the activity of disease and effectiveness of systemic therapy.
Aims: evaluation of interconnections between indicators of angiogenesis in the skin and nail bed of psoriasis patients with clinical characteristics of disease course and therapeutic response to the use of methotrexate by a comprehensive study of the morphometric data dynamics of videodermatoscopy in vascular bed of the skin, the severity of blood flow in the dermis and nail bed during ultrasonic power dopplerography and plasma concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (En-1).
Materials and methods: work is based on the data analysis from a survey of 82 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris in acute stage, who were first prescribed methotrexate in the form of subcutaneous injections at a dose of 10-15 mg per week in combination with folic acid 5 mg per week. Before treatment and three months after start of methotrexate therapy, all patients underwent videodermatoscopy with dimension of density and size of dilated skin capillaries, ultrasonography of psoriatic plaques and nail bed of affected nails and measurement of doppler blood flow parameters and concentration of VEGF and En-1 in blood plasma.
Results: a direct correlation was established between the average diameter of dilated skin capillaries (vascular glomeruli), the degree of increased blood flow in the doppler energy study of psoriatic plaques skin area and the plasma concentration of VEGF and En-1 and values of PASI, BSA, sPGA and DLQI indices, as well as the severity of doppler blood flow of the nail bed and NAPSI index.Under the influence of methotrexate treatment, a decrease in diameter and density of vascular glomeruli, the degree of blood flow in area of psoriatic plaques and the concentration of VEGF and En-1 was observed.
Conclusions: studied indicators of angiogenesis can be used as additional criteria for assessing degree of activity and achieving clinical improvement/remission during systemic therapy in patients with moderate and severe psoriasis.
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Usefulness of Ultrasound Examination in the Assessment of the Nail Apparatus in Psoriasis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095611. [PMID: 35565018 PMCID: PMC9105627 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of psoriatic nail changes in everyday practice is based exclusively on clinical symptoms that do not reflect the entire disease process in the nail apparatus. The use of imaging methods, especially widely available and inexpensive ultrasonography, creates the possibility of additional revealing and assessing grayscale of morphological changes of the ventral nail plate, nail bed, and matrix, as well as the attachment of the finger extensor tendon to the distal phalanx. What is more, it enables the assessment of inflammation severity in the power Doppler technique. A qualitative classification of nail plate morphological changes corresponding to the severity of psoriatic nail changes has been developed so far and attempts are being made to develop a quantitative method to assess not only the presence of changes but also the severity of inflammation. Nail ultrasonography is not commonly performed, although published studies indicate the possible use of this technique in the assessment of psoriatic changes in nail structures. It can be particularly useful in subclinical changes imaging, preceding clinical manifestation of psoriatic nail changes, enthesopathy: subclinical and in the course of psoriatic arthritis, as well as in the assessment of treatment efficacy. This review article aims to summaries the research on ultrasonography of the nail apparatus which has been carried out so far, taking into account its applicability in clinical practice.
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