AB0959 The Automated Software-Guided Ultrasound Assessment of Bilateral Common Carotids Intima-Media Thickness for Investigation of Cardiovascular Risk: Comparison between Psoriatic and Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: L. Pereira, G.M. Soares, M.A. Dias, P. Ribeiro, M.M. Pinheiro, K. Luz
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2016)

<h3>Background</h3> Recent studies have shown the relationship between psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and subclinical atherosclerosis. Currently, a new automated ultrasound software, based on radio frequency, called RF-QIMT technology, proved to be a useful method for assessing subclinical atherosclerosis with the measurement of the intima-media thickness (IMT) in carotid arteries. <h3>Objectives</h3> To compare the carotid IMT in patients with ordinary psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through the RF-QIMT. <h3>Methods</h3> Total of 28 patients with APs (n=14) and RA (n=14) were enrolled in this case-control study. Patients with diabetes mellittus, dyslipidemia and previous cardiovascular events excluded. We evaluated the body mass index (BMI) and disease activity, including DAS28 score. The patients underwent a US assessment of the IMT of the posterior wall of common carotids using a My Lab 60 (Esaote SpA, Genoa, Italy) equipped with a 4–13 MHz linear probe adopting an automatic software-guided technique (named RF-QIMT technology). <h3>Results</h3> Mean age was 42.5. ±7.7 years and 46,6± 11.6 years in patients with APs and RA with no statistical difference between the groups (p&gt;0.05). The mean disease duration was 14.1±9,5 and 6.17±4.4 years (p&lt;0.05) in patients with APs and RA, respectively, with a predominance of men in those with APs (50% vs. 0%) (p&lt;0.05). In addition, there was no statistical difference (p&gt;0.05) between the groups regarding BMI (26.3±5.7 vs. 26.6±4.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) and DAS28 score (3.93±0.7 vs. 2.8±0.63). There was no statistical difference (p&gt;0.05) in relation to the average values of IMT (0.744± 0.244 in APs vs. 0.626 mm ±0.113mm in RA), the standard deviation (SD) of the six average values indicated by the system, were ranging from 12,7μm to 21μm, respectively. In addition, it was found that 64.3% of the patients with APs and 78.6% of those AR had higher IMT measurement than expected (p&gt;0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between IMT and the DAS28 score. However, there was a moderate statistically significant correlation (r =0.51; p&lt;0.05) between the higher IMT measurement than expected and the DAS28 score. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The results show that patients with APs and AR have high rates of subclinical atherosclerosis, which can be measured by the new adopting an automatic software (called RF-QIMT) of evaluating the IMT, moreover there was correlation and validation with disease activty score. <h3>References</h3> Di Geso L, Zardi EM, Afeltra A, Salaffi F, Carotti M, Gutierrez M, Filippucci E et al.Comparison between conventional and automated software-guided ultrasound assessment of bilateral common carotids intima-media thickness in patients with rheumatic diseases. Clin Rheumatol. 2012;31:881–4. Naredo E, Möller I, Gutiérrez M, Bong DA, Cobo T, Corominas H, Corrales A et al. Multi-examiner reliability of automated radio frequency-based ultrasound measurements of common carotid intima-media thickness in rheumatoid arthritis.Rheumatology (Oxford).2011;50:1860–4. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared