To analyze the characteristics of various clinical parameter reflecting the di-sease activity of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore their objectivity and different clinical values.

The clinical data and ultrasonic data of 28 joints of RA patients diagnosed between 2014 and 2018 were collected. The characteristics of clinical indicators were analyzed, and their correlation with total grey scale (GS)/power Doppler (PD) scores of 28 joints was explored. Semi-quantitative score (0-3 points) of GS and PD for synovial hyperplasia was performed on 28 joints of selected patients by ultrasound. Total GS/PD scores include 28 joints. The characteristics of clinical parameters were analyzed, and their correlation with total GS/PD scores of 28 joints was explored. The normal distribution data was represented by mean SD, while the non-normal distribution data was represented by median (interquad interval,IQR). Correlation analysis was performed using 95% Spearman nonparametric correlation coefficient. All statistical tests were bilateral, with a significance of P<0.01.

163 RA patients were enrolled. 85% of them were female, with an average age of (52.0±13.0) years and a median course of disease 34(24, 45) months. The disease activity score in 28 joints C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), simplified disease activity index (SDAI) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) were 4.2(2.4, 5.4), 17.9 (5.7, 33.3) and 16.0 (5.0, 28.5), respectively. There was discordance between tender joint count (TJC) and swollen joint count (SJC) in some patients. Eighty-nine (54.6%) patients had higher TJC than SJC, while 19(11.7%) patients had fewer TJC than SJC. The accordance between physician's global assessment (PGA) and evaluator Sglobalassessmentofdiseaseactivity (EGA) was observed in only 61 cases (37.4%). Eighty-nine patients (54.6%) had a higher PGA than EGA. Overall, all the parameters [TJC, SJC, PGA, PGA, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and CRP] were positively correlated with the total GS/PD scores (r>0.50,P<0.01). Composite disease activity scores, DAS28, SDAI and CDAI, were also significantly correlated with total GS/PD scores (r>0.59,P<0.01). But compared with TJC, the correlation between SJC and GS/PD was better (r=0.59/0.60, P<0.01;r=0.50/0.51, P<0.01). Similarly, compared with GPA, the correlation between EGA and GS/PD was better (r=0.66/0.67, P<0.01;r=0.55/0.58, P<0.01).

The composite disease activity scores and all their components are significantly correlated with ultrasonic synovitis. Compared with TJC and PGA, SJC, EGA, CRP and ESR show a higher correlation with joint ultrasonic synovitis, and are more objective and meaningful in the evaluation of RA disease activity.

Arthritis, rheumatoid; Disease activity; Clinical parameters; Ultrasonic synovitis