Your Article Summary
See Latest ArticlesUltrasonography shows disappearance of monosodium urate crystal deposition on hyaline cartilage after sustained normouricemia is achieved
Rheumatology International, 06/25/09
Thiele RG et al. – Study reports that characteristic sonographic changes are influenced by urate lowering drugs (ULDs) once serum urate (SU) levels remain ≤6 mg/dl for ≥7 months. Sonographic changes of gout correlate with SU levels and may be a non-invasive means to track changes in the uric acid pool.
Methods- Aim was to determine whether lowering SU to <6 mg/dl in pts with gout affects ultrasonographic findings
- 7 joints in 5 pts with proven gout and hyperuricemia were examined over time with serial ultrasonography
- 4/5 pts were treated with ULDs: allopurinol, n=3; probenecid, n=1
- 1 patient was treated with colchicine alone
- Attention was given to changes in a hyperechoic, irregular coating of the hyaline cartilage
- This coating was considered to represent precipitate of MSU crystals
- Index joints included metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints (n=2), knee joints (n=3), and first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints (n=2)
- The interval between baseline and f/u images ranged from 7-18 mo
- Serial SU levels were obtained during the f/u period
- During the f/u period, 3 pts treated with ULD achieved a SU level of <6 mg/dl
- In 2 pts, SU levels remained above 6 mg/dl
- At baseline, the double contour sign was seen in all pts
- In those pts who achieved SU levels of <6 ml/dl, this sign had disappeared at f/u
- Disappearance of the double contour sign was seen in 2 knee joints, 2 first MTP joints, and 1 MCP joint
- In contrast, disappearance of the double contour sign was not seen in pts who maintained a SU level ≥7 mg/dl
- In 1 patient treated with allopurinol, SU levels improved from 13 to 7 mg/dl during the f/u period
- Decrease, but not resolution of the hyperechoic coating was seen in this patient
- In patient treated with colchicine alone, SU levels remained >8 mg/dl, and no sonographic change was observed
- Sonographic signs of deposition of MSU crystals on the surface of hyaline cartilage disappeared completely if sustained normouricemia was achieved
Related Articles
A Pilot Study: Longer Duration of Posttransplant Hepatitis C Virus Therapy May Increase the Sustained Response Rate
Transplantation Proceedings, 11/23/09
Relevance Score: 43%
Rapid and sustained improvements in health-related quality of life, fatigue, and other patient-reported outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with certolizumab pegol plus methotrexate over 1 year: Results from the RAPID 1 randomized controlled trial
Arthritis Research & Therapy, 11/16/09
Relevance Score: 43%
“Initiate–Build–Operate–Transfer”– A Strategy for Establishing Sustainable Telemedicine Programs in Developing Countries: Initial Lessons from the Balkans
Telemedicine and e-Health, 11/16/09
Relevance Score: 43%
Sox7-sustained expression alters the balance between proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors at the onset of blood specification
Blood, 10/09/09
Relevance Score: 43%
De novo hepatocellular carcinoma in a liver graft with sustained hepatitis C virus clearance after living donor liver transplantation
Liver Transplantation, 10/30/09
Relevance Score: 42%
Today in Gout and Hyperuricemia...keeping you current
Receive free subspecialty "5-minute updates" via email
Common Polymorphisms Influencing Serum Uric Acid Levels Contribute to Susceptibility to Gout, but Not to Coronary Artery Disease
PLoS ONE - Cardiovascular Disorders, 11/10/09
The modern management of gout
Rheumatology, 10/08/09
Hyperuricemia Is a Mediator of Endothelial Dysfunction and Inflammation in Renal Allograft Recipients
Transplantation Proceedings, 11/02/09