Sonographic Findings of Hands and Wrists in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients With Jaccoud Arthropathy

Abstract

Introduction: Jaccoud arthropathy (JA) is a deforming nonerosive arthropathy, characterized by the presence of "reversible" joint deformity. The study aims at describing the main musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) findings of a series of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with JA.

Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed as having JA and SLE were included in the study. All patients underwent a whole clinical evaluation and US of the hands and wrists. The US scan evaluated the presence of synovial hypertrophy, tenosynovitis, and bone erosions.

Results: Thirty-nine of 40 patients were female. The US examination was performed on 560 joints of the hands and wrists. At least 1 change was observed in the US examination of 20 patients (50.0%), but there was not a statistically significant association with disease activity (P = 0.33). Nineteen patients (47.5%) had synovial hypertrophy, 9 (22.5%) had tenosynovitis, and 7 (17.5%) had both. Isolated small bone erosions were identified in 2 patients (5.0%).

Conclusions: Ultrasound examination is a reliable and noninvasive imaging method for the evaluation of joint involvement in SLE. Half of the patients with JA have ultrasonographic signs of joint inflammation, and these abnormalities may be found even in the absence of disease activity.