Emerging Role of Ultrasonography in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Optimizing Diagnosis, Measuring Disease Activity and Identifying Prognostic Factors

Ultrasonography is a sensitive imaging modality that provides valuable information regarding early inflammatory changes that are not detected by clinical examination or X-rays, such as subclinical synovitis and erosions. This information may improve the management of rheumatoid arthritis by providing a more timely and accurate diagnosis, identifying poor prognostic factors, more accurately monitoring response to therapeutic intervention, improving treatment decisions and more accurately assessing remission. Ultrasonography could play a critical role in minimizing disease activity through strict monitoring and aggressive therapeutic adjustment, which has emerged as an approach to improve long-term outcomes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.