Ultrasound detects significantly low crystal deposition in gout by ULT: Study

Norway: A treat-to-target approach with urate lowering therapy caused a significant reduction of ultrasound-detected crystal depositions after 12 months in gout patients, according to a recent study in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Further, an ultrasound scoring system for crystal depositions was found to be sensitive to change.

Ultrasound is sensitive to changes for the detection of crystal deposition in gout patients. Hilde Berner Hammer, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Sykehus, Oslo, Norway, and colleagues explored the main locations for depositions and the extent of dissolution of depositions during a treat-to-target approach with urate-lowering treatment (ULT) in gout patients. 

This single-center study consecutively included patients with a recent flare of gout. Thye were manged by a treat-to-target approach with ULT. The patients were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months including bilateral ultrasound examinations of joints/tendons/entheses of hands, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet. During follow-up, the number of depositions were quantified by applying a new semiquantitative scoring system of 0–3 of elementary lesions (double contour (DC), tophi, and aggregates).

209 of the patients were evaluated with ultrasound at baseline (mean (SD) age 56.4 (13.8) years and disease duration 7.9 (7.7) years, 95.2% were men). 

"The ultrasound scoring system for crystal depositions was sensitive to change and showed that a treat-to-target approach with ULT resulted in significant reductions of all the depositions, most extensively for DC," concluded the authors. 

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Hammer HB, Karoliussen L, Terslev L, Haavardsholm EA, Kvien TK, Uhlig T. Ultrasound shows rapid reduction of crystal depositions during a treat-to-target approach in gout patients: 12-month results from the NOR-Gout study. Ann Rheum Dis. Published online July 15, 2020. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-217392