Ultrasonographic evaluation of distal femoral and talar cartilage thicknesses in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and their relationship with disease activity.

INTRODUCTION

The aims of this study were to compare the distal femoral and talar cartilage thicknesses by ultrasonography (US) between patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls and to investigate the potential relationship of these parameters with disease activity and clinical parameters.

METHODS

Fifty-five patients with RA with a disease duration of up to 12 months (RA group), and 55 healthy volunteers (control group) were included in the study. The bilateral distal femur and talus cartilage thicknesses of all participants were measured by US and compared between the groups. The relationship of the results with the clinical data of the patients with early RA was investigated.

RESULTS

The distal femur (medial, central, and lateral) and talus cartilage thicknesses of both extremities were significantly lower in the RA group. The tender joint count was found to be slightly to moderately negatively correlated with cartilage thickness. However, no correlation was found between the swollen joint count and cartilage thickness. In addition, the disease activity scores were moderately and inversely correlated with cartilage thickness in certain areas.

CONCLUSION

The results of this preliminary study using US indicate that the distal femoral and talus cartilage of patients with RA can be affected in the early period, and the cartilage thickness of patients seems to be associated with disease activity. These results may inspire new studies for the evaluation of femoral and talar cartilage with US. Key Points • The distal femoral and talus cartilage thicknesses seem to be affected in the early period of rheumatoid arthritis. • There may be a relationship between the distal femur and talus cartilage thicknesses and disease activity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. • The tender joint count appears to be more associated with cartilage thickness than the swollen joint count in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.