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The frequency of synovitis and calcium pyrophosphate deposition with ultrasound is increased in transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia patients: effect of iron accumulation?
S. Ermurat1, E. Güler Kazancı2, K. Ayar3, V. Gürsoy4
- Department of Rheumatology, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey. selimeermurat@hotmail.com
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, Bursa City Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
- Department of Rheumatology, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
- Department of Haematology, Bursa City Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
CER15721
2023 Vol.41, N°5
PI 1059, PF 1067
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PMID: 36062740 [PubMed]
Received: 28/03/2022
Accepted : 25/07/2022
In Press: 31/08/2022
Published: 03/05/2023
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To determine the frequency of synovitis and calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPDD) with ultrasound (US) in the wrists of transfusion dependant (TD) beta-thalassaemia patients and to investigate the associated factors with these pathologies.
METHODS:
Eighty-seven beta-thalassaemia patients (46 thalassaemia major and 41 thalassaemia minor patients) were grouped into two as TD and transfusion non-dependent (TND)-thalassaemia patients. Under bilateral wrist US the presence of synovial hypertrophy (SH), power Doppler signal (PD) combined synovitis (SH+PD), tenosynovitis, and triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFC)-cartilage calcification (CC) were examined. SH, PD, and combined synovitis in the US were classified as Grade-0 (no), Grade-1 (minimal), Grade-2 (moderate), and Grade-3 (severe).
RESULTS:
The incidence of moderate/severe SH, PD, and combined synovitis with US was 34.8%, 17.4%, and 34.8% in TD-thalassaemia patients, respectively, but none in TND patients (p<0.001, p=0.006, p<0.001). The frequency of TFC-CC with US was 32.6% in TD and 2.4% in TND-thalassaemia patients (p<0.001). Ferritin level was positively correlated with SH (r=0.414, p<0.001), PD (r=0.279, p=0.009) and combined synovitis scores (r=0.402, p<0.001). Ferritin level (OR:1.001, CI:1.000-1.002) and the presence of TFC-CC (OR:25.048, CI:5.187-120.951) were determined as to be associated with moderate/severe combined synovitis.
CONCLUSIONS:
The presence of synovitis and TFC-CC with the US is common in patients with beta-thalassaemia who have had recurrent blood transfusions. Iron overload in beta-thalassaemia patients may cause CPDD and synovial inflammation.
