Summary
This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the role of ultrasound (US) for the management of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to propose practical algorithms for its use in clinical practice. The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) had previously recommended the use of US in patients with PsA without clearly distinguishing its management from that of spondyloarthritis (SpA).
The systematic literature review (SLR) included 120 articles, primarily focusing on the diagnostic process. The findings suggested a notable interest among rheumatologists in using the US for PsA management. Following a consensus discussion on literature data and expert opinions through a Delphi process, the study proposed three practical algorithms for different clinical situations: suspicion of PsA, management of PsA with good clinical response, and management of PsA with insufficient clinical response.
The study emphasizes the potential of the US in objectively evaluating PsA and provides practical guidance for its use in clinical management, from diagnosis to treatment response assessment. However, the authors call for further research to define remission and evaluate ate US’s ability to predict disease severity in PsA.
