Composite assessment of power Doppler ultrasonography and MRI in rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study of predictive value in radiographic progression after one year

Objective: Power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) and MRI are independently useful to predict structural damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We hypothesize that there is a complementary relationship between these modalities. The aim of this study is, therefore, to investigate the usefulness of the predictive value of composite assessment of PDUS and contrast-enhanced MRI in radiographic outcomes in patients with RA. Methods: 20 patients (17 females and 3 males) with RA on disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs underwent PDUS and MRI of both hands at baseline. Radiography of the bilateral hands was performed at baseline and at 1 year, Articular synovitis on PDUS was evaluated according to quantitative measurement. Synovitis, bone marrow edema and bone erosion were scored according to the RA MRI scoring method. The changes of joint space narrowing and bone erosion on radiograph were assessed by the Sharp/van der Heijde method. We applied t-statistics to combine the assessment of quantitative PDUS with semiquantitative MRI. Results: Structural damage progression for radiography was not correlated with any evaluations for MRI, while it showed significant correlation with synovitis on PDUS (r(s) = 0.597, p = 0.005). The composite assessment of both modalities (synovitis for PDUS and bone marrow edema for MRI) was correlated with structural damage progression on radiograph (r(s) = 0.792, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Composite assessment of PDUS and MRI may have a stronger predictive value in radiographic progression than PDUS or MRI alone in RA. Advances In knowledge: Composite assessment of PDUS and MRI may be an effective predictor of structural damage in RA