Enthesis Differences in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Axial Spondyloarthropathy

Ultrasonographic Differences in Entheses in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Axial Spondyloarthropathy Patients

The aim of this study is to investigate the sonographic differences in entheses in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis and Axial Spondyloarthropathy.

After recording the demographic data of the patients; 5 enthesis regions 5 enthesis sites were evaluated bilaterally as ''tricipital tendon (TT), quadricipital tendon (QT), proximal patellar tendon (PPT), distal patellar tendon (DPT), achilles tendon (AT)'' will be sonographically evaluated and the presence of hypoechogenicity , tendon thickness increase, power Doppler activity, erosion, presence of entezophyte/calcification will be investigated. The differences between the groups will then be compared.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Rheumatoid arthritis patients identified according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology /Europan Leage Against Rheumatism classification criteria,
• axial Spondyloarthrtis patients identified according to the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis classification criteria
• healthy controls with no history of rheumatic diseases.

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of limb trauma and surgery in the last 3 months,
• metabolic disease (diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism),
• malignant neoplasm,
• limitation of range of motion in the extremity,
• those who have received corticosteroid injections in the last 3 months,
• uncontrollable fibromyalgia.