Synchronization of intra-articular power doppler flow and systemic angiogenic activitiy in arthritis as a new “in vivo“ model to study angiogenesis

Objectives: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) vasodilation and synovial angiogenesis result in local intra-articular hyperemia which can be visualized by Doppler ultrasound. Since elevated angiogenic factors could be measured in the serum of RA patients, we evaluated a possible association with synovial microvascular power Doppler flow in a longitudinal study. Patients and methods: Inflamed wrists of 15 RA patients were examined by ultrasound prior to and at days 3,7,14 and 42 after the initiation of a first-line treatment with Glucocorticoids or with TNF-alpha inhibitors. Besides the assessment of clinical and labor…