Ultrasonographic evaluation of femoral cartilage thickness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Ultrasound Measurement of Femoral Cartilage Thickness in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever and its Relation to Amyloidosis and Other Disease Characteristics

Objectives

This study aimed to determine femoral cartilage thickness (FCT) in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and healthy individuals and to assess the relationship of FCT with the development of amyloidosis and clinical features.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with FMF according to the Tel-Hashomer criteria and healthy controls were included in the study. FCT of both knees was measured with a 7-12 MHz linear probe in maximum knee flexion. Three midpoint measurements were obtained from each knee: Lateral femoral condyle (LFC), intercondylar area (ICA), and medial femoral condyle (MFC). The patients' clinic characteristics include disease duration, medications, comorbid conditions, amyloidosis, chronic renal failure (CRF), FMF gene mutation, arthritis, sacroiliitis, PRAS score, and Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form score were recorded.

Results

A total of 46 patients with FMF (36 women) and 20 age-sex-body mass index-matched controls (14 women) were enrolled in this study. The patients and controls' mean age were 37±12.9 and 37.5±8.6 years, respectively. Amyloidosis occurred in 7 patients (15.2%), CRF in 3 (6.5%), and knee arthritis in 8 (17%). Disease activity was mild in 55.8%, moderate in 20.9%, and severe in 23.23% of the patients. The mean FCT in millimeter values in the FMF and control groups was as follows: On the right side, LFC 1.9±0.5 and 2±0.52, ICA 2.2±0.77 and 2.25±0.97, and MFC 2±0.47 and 2.25±0.72; on the left side, LFC 1.9±0.4 and 2.05±0.55, ICA 2.25±0.87 and 2.25±0.87, and MFC 1.85±0.5 and 2.25±0.6. Patients with FMF had decreased cartilage thickness at the lateral condyle of both knees (p<0.05) and medial condyle of the left knee (p<0.05) compared with controls. FCT measurements were similar in patients with or without arthritis, amyloidosis, and CRF (p>0.05). FCT scores were not different among the disease activity groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that patients with FMF have decreased FCT compared with controls, and there is no significant relationship between the FCT and amyloidosis and disease activity.

Keratoconus: a potential risk factor for osteoarthritis

PURPOSE

This study was undertaken to compare the distal femoral cartilage thickness in patients with keratoconus (KC) with that of age- and sex-matched healthy controls, in order to identify a potential risk factor for early osteoarthritis in patients with KC and to allow initiation of early rehabilitation.

METHODS

Thirty-six KC patients between 18 and 35 years of age and 36 healthy controls were included in this study. Keratometry readings (K1, K2), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), iridocorneal angle (ICA), and corneal volumes (CV) were measured using a Sirius imaging system (Costruzioni Strumenti Oftalmici, Italy). Also, the distal femoral cartilage thickness (DFCT) was assessed bilaterally using ultrasound by the same physiatrist. Lateral femoral condyle (LFC), intercondylar area (ICA), medial femoral condyle (MFC), and body mass index (BMI) values were recorded.

RESULTS

Patient and control groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, and BMI. On the other hand, patients with KC had a significant reduction in right LFC, MFC thickness and left ICA, MFC as compared to controls (p < 0.05). In the corneal topographic evaluation of the groups, it was observed that K₁, K₂, CCT, and ACD values differed significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Detection of thinner DFCT in KC patients suggests that these patients may be future candidates of osteoarthritis.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of femoral cartilage thickness in patients with psoriatic arthritis

BACKGROUND

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common form of arthritis that may vary from asymmetric oligoarthritis to symmetric polyarthritis and spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate femoral cartilage thickness using ultrasonography in patients with PsA.

METHODS

Thirty-three patients (24 female, 9 male) with a diagnosis of PsA and 31 age-, sex- and body mass index-similar healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded, including disease duration, morning stiffness and medications. The femoral cartilage thicknesses of both knees (while held in maximum flexion) were measured with a 7-12 MHz linear probe. Three mid-point measurements were taken from both knees (at the lateral condyle, intercondylar area and medial condyle).

RESULTS

Cartilage thicknesses were similar between PsA patients and healthy control subjects. However, there were significant correlations between cartilage thickness and the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score, Bath AS functional index and Bath AS disease activity index scores.

CONCLUSION

Femoral cartilage thickness is similar between PsA patients and healthy controls. The femoral cartilage thickness in PsA patients is associated with disease activity, functional inadequacy, and enthesopathy scores.