title: Weighting with the Lansbury articular index improves the correlation of ultrasound score with serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 level in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether weighting improves the correlation of ultrasound (US) score with serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) level in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  As ultrasound examination was performed on 100 RA patients, and the severity of synovial effusion and synovial hypertrophy and the blood flow were semi-quantitatively graded from 0 to 3 by using the gray-scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) modes. We then calculated the sums of the scores of the 28 joints of each patient in the 2 modes, that is, the GS28 and PD28 scores, as well as the respective scores weighted using the Lansbury articular index (LAI, shoulder and elbow, × 12; wrist, × 8; and knee, × 24)-Lans GS28 and Lans PD28 scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Lans PD28 score showed a higher correlation with MMP-3 (r = 0.591; 95% confidence interval, 0.446-0.705, p < 0.0001) than the existing measures. The scores of the large joints-the knee, shoulder, and elbow-correlated well with the serum MMP-3 level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weighting with the LAI can improve the correlation of US findings with serum MMP-3 level. Bidirectional approach based on both serum MMP-3 level and US scores can further improve the assessment of disease activity in RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Misa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorai
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuki
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: Nagachika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugisaki
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Minowa
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kon
authors.forename: Kurisu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaji
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Yoshinari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takasaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3
keywords: Lansbury articular index; Matrix metalloproteinase-3; Rheumatoid arthritis; Ultrasound