#5-68E. Ultrasonographic Clues: Distinguishing RS3PE Syndrome from Elderly-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis (ClinRheumatol, 2020)

How can clinicians reliably differentiate RS3PE syndrome from elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis when clinical presentations overlap in older patients? Musculoskeletal ultrasound reveals that extensive extra-articular lesions, particularly digital flexor tenosynovitis and extensor peritendinitis, are significantly more prominent in RS3PE syndrome than in seropositive elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Although limited by a small retrospective sample without seronegative controls, these extra-articular findings offer crucial diagnostic value. Assessing both intra-articular and extra-articular lesions empowers physicians to rapidly select appropriate targeted therapies, such as corticosteroids or DMARDs, for acute hand swelling.

Citation: Kawashiri SY, Suzuki T, Okada A, Tsuji S, Takatani A, Shimizu T, Koga T, Iwamoto N, Ichinose K, Nakamura H, Origuchi T, Kawakami A. Differences in musculoskeletal ultrasound findings between RS3PE syndrome and elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Clinical Rheumatology. 2020. DOI: 10.1007/s10067-020-04931-w

URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-020-04931-w

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