Finger tendon involvement in rheumatoid arthritis

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Objective. To characterize finger tendon involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. The finger tendons of 20 RA patients were studied by ultrasonography using a high-frequency (13-MHz) transducer. Results. Eighteen patients (90%) showed finger tendon abnormalities: widening of the flexor tendon sheath (80%), loss of the normal fibrillar echotexture (60%), irregularity of the extensor (30%) and flexor (50%) tendon margins, tendon tear (10%), synovial cyst (20%). Conclusion. High-frequency sonography is helpful in assessing even minimal finger tendon lesions in RA patients.