Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the UltraSound Score for Erosions (USSe) and the modified Sharp/van der Heijde score for erosions (SHSe).
Methods: One hundred eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were included. On radiography, SHSe was evaluated by 2 or 3 blinded readers (in case of discordance). On ultrasonography, erosions were scored on 6 bilateral joints (metacarpophalangeal joints 2,3,5; metatarsophalangeal joints 2,3,5) with a 4-point scale to calculate the USSe.
Results: The Pearson correlation was good (r = 0.68, P < 0.001) and the agreement illustrated by a Bland-Altman plot was excellent (91%) between the 2 scores, which were complementary in detecting erosions.
Conclusion: The USSe seems to be a valuable tool for assessing erosive damage in RA.
Keywords: joint erosions; radiography; rheumatoid arthritis; ultrasonography.
Copyright © 2021 by the Journal of Rheumatology.