Detection of joint involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus using musculoskeletal ultrasound and its correlation with disease activity

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal symptoms are common and could be the first presenting symptom in up to 50% of systemic lupus erythematosus patients, they affect more than 95% patients during clinical course. The present study aimed assess joint involvement wrists, hands, knees SLE using musculoskeletal ultrasonography correlate these findings with disease activity. enrolled 40 Patients who were attending Immunology outpatient clinic internal medicine department Beni-Suef University Hospital 20 age sex nearly matched healthy controls have no rheumatological complaints. Participants had a comprehensive physical examination, series laboratory tests, functional assessment by Health Assessment Questionnaire score, activity European Consensus Lupus Activity radiological examination high-resolution Ultrasound machine called (LOGIC P 9) gray-scale US mode (13–18 MHz) Power Doppler detect synovitis, synovial hypertrophy, bone erosions or tenosynovitis. Results There was statistically significant prevalence abnormality knee joints both asymptomatic symptomatic cases versus contrary wrist hand abnormality. presence increases risk abnormalities 28 times also increasing patient one year increase probability getting abnormal 1.156 times. While only independent variable that can is Systolic Blood Pressure 1 mmHg 1.06 Conclusion applied good tool for detection early affection either patients.