TY - JOUR
T1 - Novel algorithms for the pragmatic use of ultrasound in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
T2 - From diagnosis to remission
AU - D'Agostino, Maria-Antonietta
AU - Terslev, Lene
AU - Wakefield, Richard
AU - Østergaard, Mikkel
AU - Balint, Peter
AU - Naredo, Esperanza
AU - Iagnocco, Annamaria
AU - Backhaus, Marina
AU - Grassi, Walter
AU - Emery, Paul
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - The absence of specific guidance on how to use ultrasound (US) to diagnose and manage patients with inflammatory arthritis, especially with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has hindered the optimal utilisation of US in clinical practice, potentially limiting its benefits for patient outcomes. In view of this, a group of musculoskeletal US experts formed a working group to consider how this unmet need could be satisfied and to produce guidance (additional to European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) imaging recommendations) to support clinicians in their daily clinical work. This paper describes this process and its outcome, namely five novel algorithms, which identify when US could be used. They are designed to aid diagnosis, to inform assessment of treatment response/disease monitoring and to evaluate stable disease state or remission in patients with suspected or established RA, by providing a pragmatic template for using US at certain time points of the RA management. A research agenda has also been defined for answering unmet clinical needs.
AB - The absence of specific guidance on how to use ultrasound (US) to diagnose and manage patients with inflammatory arthritis, especially with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has hindered the optimal utilisation of US in clinical practice, potentially limiting its benefits for patient outcomes. In view of this, a group of musculoskeletal US experts formed a working group to consider how this unmet need could be satisfied and to produce guidance (additional to European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) imaging recommendations) to support clinicians in their daily clinical work. This paper describes this process and its outcome, namely five novel algorithms, which identify when US could be used. They are designed to aid diagnosis, to inform assessment of treatment response/disease monitoring and to evaluate stable disease state or remission in patients with suspected or established RA, by providing a pragmatic template for using US at certain time points of the RA management. A research agenda has also been defined for answering unmet clinical needs.
KW - Rheumatoid Arthritis
KW - Synovitis
KW - Ultrasonography
U2 - 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209646
DO - 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209646
M3 - Review
C2 - 27553213
AN - SCOPUS:84984611726
SN - 0003-4967
VL - 75
SP - 1902
EP - 1908
JO - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
IS - 11
ER -