Knee joint synovitis in Sjögren's syndrome. Sonographic study

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Medical Imaging
• Immunology

Background:

• Synovitis, characterized by joint effusion and synovial proliferation, is a key feature in several autoimmune and connective tissue diseases.
• Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disorder primarily affecting exocrine glands, but joint involvement is also recognized.
• Ultrasound is a valuable tool for evaluating joint inflammation, including synovitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the sonographic signs of synovitis in patients with primary Sjögren's Syndrome (SS).
• To compare the findings in primary SS with those in secondary SS, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and healthy individuals.

Main Methods:

• Sonographic assessment of the suprapatellar synovial bursa in the knee joint.
• Measurement of synovial thickness and detection of joint effusion.
• Comparison of ultrasound findings across different patient groups: primary SS, secondary SS with RA, RA, connective tissue diseases, and healthy subjects.

Main Results:

• Synovial thickening was detected in all disease groups, with higher grades observed in secondary SS with RA and RA.
• Joint effusion was significantly more frequent in secondary SS with RA and RA.
• Signs of slight synovitis, including synovial thickening and occasional effusion, were demonstrated in primary SS patients.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first sonographic evidence of slight synovitis in primary Sjögren's Syndrome.
• The severity of synovitis in primary SS appears less pronounced compared to secondary SS with RA and RA.
• Ultrasound can detect subclinical synovitis in primary SS, suggesting a potential role in monitoring disease activity.