Application of Transcranial Color Doppler Ultrasonography for Assessing Middle Cerebral Arteries in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Issue 4 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Qiuyue; Li, Shilin; Lv, Guorong; Zhao, Yanchun
• Is Part Of: Ultrasound quarterly. Volume 33:Issue 4(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: rheumatoid arthritis -- ultrasonography -- middle cerebral artery -- hemodynamics -- disease duration -- MCAs = middle cerebral arteries -- RA = rheumatoid arthritis -- PSV = peak systolic velocity -- EDV = end-diastolic velocity -- RI = resistance index; Diagnostic ultrasonic imaging -- Periodicals; 616.07543
• DOI: 10.1097/RUQ.0000000000000312
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-8771

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: To assess the role of ultrasonography for assessing middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Middle cerebral arteries of 32 RA patients and 32 healthy volunteers were examined by ultrasonography. Peak systolic blood flow velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity, and resistance index (RI) of MCA were measured using Doppler ultrasound. Results were expressed as mean ± SD. No significant difference in peak systolic velocity was obtained between RA patients (52.44 ± 19.56 cm/s) and healthy volunteers (51.59 ± 16.83 cm/s, P > 0.05). End-diastolic velocity in RA patients was significantly lower (15.41 ± 5.44 cm/s vs 24.54 ± 8.45 cm/s, P < 0.01) and RI markedly higher (0.66 ± 0.10 vs 0.60 ± 0.06, P < 0.05) compared with control values. Resistance index in 32 RA patients increased with disease duration (2 months to 31 years), from a median value of 0.350 to 0.830; there was a strong correlation between RI and disease duration ( r = 0.965, P < 0.05). A point of 0.64 in receiver operating characteristic curve was chosen as the cutoff point, and the area under the curve was 0.918. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 90.6%, 87.5%, 87.9%, 90.3%, and 89.1%, respectively. Color Doppler ultrasound in RA patients with hemodynamic changes of MCAs could be a relatively sensitive tool for the detection of cerebral atherosclerotic lesions. This could enable timely intervention for early clinical reference.