Study population
hand deformities, RA, tophi, wrist joints, arthropathies, gout, trauma
DISEASE, GOUT, ARTHROPATHIES, PHOTOSENSITIVITY
Fifty-four of 57 recruited consecutive patients with active inflammatory arthropathies were enrolled in the study and were examined by OST during their stay in our inpatient Rheumatology clinic, before and after administration of glucocorticoids (GC). The same patients underwent bilateral US examinations of the MCP, PIP, and wrist joints at the same points in time. We included patients with RA, PSA, peripheral spondyloarthritides, and gout, according to the established classification criteria for every disease [Exclusion criteria in both groups were age<18 years, joint prostheses/implants, severe hand deformities, pronounced ulnar deviation, psoriatic skin plaques on the hands, radiologic or US signs of tophi, recent trauma or surgery, and known photosensitivity. Patients and controls gave their informed consent, and the assessment was reviewed and approved by the local standing committee for ethical conduct, in adherence to the Helsinki Declaration.