Article
Author(s):
New research found that residual inflammation in ultrasound images was associated with patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with low disease activity, but not in patients in remission.
Residual inflammation on ultrasound images was associated with patient-reported outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with low disease activity (LDA), according to a study published in BMC Rheumatology. However, this residual inflammation was not seen in patients in remission (REM).
The researchers performed musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) on 300 patients with RA who received routine care at Tobata General Hospital in Kitakyushu, Japan. The team did a cross-sectional analysis on each patient by disease activity.
"In recent years, with improvements in the treatment of RA making it possible to achieve treatment goals, the management of patients’ subjective symptoms has received more attention in the context of patient-centred care," the authors explained.
The mean age was 65.4 years and 80.7% of participants being female. The mean disease duration was 103.6 months, or 8.6 years. The patients included had received at least one disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) continuously for at least 24 weeks.
The researchers performed systematic multiplanar grayscale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) ultrasound examinations on 22 joints in a standardized manner based on EULAR guidelines. They measured disease activity using the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), functional impairment using the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and evaluated quality of life (QoL) using the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire.
They performed univariate and multivariate analyses by dividing the data by disease activity and then by those who achieved LDA and those who did not. Overall, 96 patients were classified into the LDA group and 99 in the REM group. The researchers then analyzed each patient-reported outcome in the MSUS results.
Each joint was given a GS score using a semiquantitative scale of 0-3, defined as follows:
The researchers also gave PD scores based on a semiquantitative scale of 0-3, defined as follows:
The univariate analysis identified several significant factors, including MTX usage rate and dose, both tender (TJC) and swollen joint count, both pain and fatigue visual analog scale score (VAS), morning stiffness, HAQ, EQ-5D-5L, and estimated gestational age. Total GS score, GS score ≥ 1, GS score ≥ 2, total PD score, and PD score ≥ 1 were also major factors.
The subsequent multivariate analysis identified TJC and fatigue VAS as independent significant factors.
“For patients with LDA not achieving REM, it was suggested that fatigue VAS score and TJC may remain,” the authors noted. “In patients who achieved REM, little residual inflammation was observed on MSUS.”
This study identified GS score ≥ 2 as an independent factor for patients who achieved LDA during treatment, but showed persistent inflammation after treatment. The results also showed a relationship between GS ≥ 2 and patient-reported outcomes.
“In our study, patients with RA who achieved LDA or clinical REM experienced residual symptoms, including pain, fatigue, morning stiffness, mental health, and functional disability, possibly due to inflammation or other psychological effects of the disease itself,” the authors concluded. “Thus, our study is consistent with several studies on residual symptoms experienced by patients with RA who achieved LDA and clinical REM.”
Reference
Nawata M, Someya K, Funada M, et al. Association between ultrasound images and patient-reported outcomes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective study. BMC Rheumatol. Published online November 22, 2021. doi:10.1186/s41927-021-00221-3
NCCN Guidelines for MPN Reflect New Drugs, Focus on Clinical Trials