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Annals of Internal Medicine Jan 2017Alternative strategies exist for diagnosing gout that do not rely solely on the documentation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Alternative strategies exist for diagnosing gout that do not rely solely on the documentation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals.
PURPOSE
To summarize evidence regarding the accuracy of clinical tests and classification algorithms compared with that of a reference standard of MSU crystals in joint aspirate for diagnosing gout.
DATA SOURCES
Several electronic databases from inception to 29 February 2016.
STUDY SELECTION
21 prospective cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control studies including participants with joint inflammation and no previous definitive gout diagnosis who had MSU analysis of joint aspirate.
DATA EXTRACTION
Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment by 2 reviewers independently; overall strength of evidence (SOE) judgment by group.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Recently developed algorithms including clinical, laboratory, and imaging criteria demonstrated good sensitivity (up to 88%) and fair to good specificity (up to 96%) for diagnosing gout (moderate SOE). Three studies of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) showed sensitivities of 85% to 100% and specificities of 83% to 92% for diagnosing gout (low SOE). Six studies of ultrasonography showed sensitivities of 37% to 100% and specificities of 68% to 97%, depending on the ultrasonography signs assessed (pooled sensitivity and specificity for the double contour sign: 74% [95% CI, 52% to 88%] and 88% [CI, 68% to 96%], respectively [low SOE]).
LIMITATION
Important study heterogeneity and selection bias; scant evidence in primary and urgent care settings and in patients with conditions that may be confused with or occur with gout.
CONCLUSION
Multidimensional algorithms, which must be validated in primary and urgent care settings, may help clinicians make a provisional diagnosis of gout. Although DECT and ultrasonography also show promise for gout diagnosis, accessibility to these methods may be limited.
PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (Protocol registration: https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/ehc/products/564/1937/gout-protocol-140716.pdf).
Topics: Algorithms; Gout; Humans; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Reference Standards; Sensitivity and Specificity; Synovial Fluid; Uric Acid
PubMed: 27802505
DOI: 10.7326/M16-0462 -
The Bone & Joint Journal Jun 2018The aim of this review was to evaluate the available literature and to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity for the different alpha-defensin test systems... (Review)
Review Meta-Analysis
AIMS
The aim of this review was to evaluate the available literature and to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity for the different alpha-defensin test systems that may be used to diagnose prosthetic joint infection (PJI).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Studies using alpha-defensin or Synovasure (Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, Indiana) to diagnose PJI were identified from systematic searches of electronic databases. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy (QUADAS) tool. Meta-analysis was completed using a bivariate model.
RESULTS
A total of 11 eligible studies were included. The median QUADAS score was 13 (interquartile range 13 to 13) out of 14. Significant conflicts of interest were identified in five studies. The pooled sensitivity for the laboratory alpha-defensin test was 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91 to 0.98) and the pooled specificity was 0.97 (95% CI 0.95 to 0.98) for four studies with a threshold level of 5.2 mgl The pooled sensitivity for the lateral flow cassette test was 0.85 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.92) and the pooled specificity was 0.90 (95% CI 0.91 to 0.98). There was a statistically significant difference in sensitivity (p = 0.019), but not specificity (p = 0.47).
CONCLUSION
Laboratory-based alpha-defensin testing remains a promising tool for diagnosing PJI. The lateral flow cassette has a significantly lower performance and pooled results are comparable to the leucocyte esterase test. Further studies are required before the widespread adoption of the lateral flow cassette alpha-defensin test. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:703-11.
Topics: Arthroplasty; Biomarkers; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Predictive Value of Tests; Prosthesis-Related Infections; Sensitivity and Specificity; Synovial Fluid; alpha-Defensins
PubMed: 29855233
DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.100B6.BJJ-2017-1563.R1 -
Rheumatology (Oxford, England) Jul 2012To present the published data concerning the US assessment of tendon lesions as well as the US metric properties investigated in inflammatory arthritis. (Review)
Review
A systematic literature review of US definitions, scoring systems and validity according to the OMERACT filter for tendon lesion in RA and other inflammatory joint diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To present the published data concerning the US assessment of tendon lesions as well as the US metric properties investigated in inflammatory arthritis.
METHODS
A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library was performed. Selection criteria were original articles in the English language reporting US, Doppler, tenosynovitis and other tendon lesions in patients with RA and other inflammatory arthritis. Data extraction focused on the definition and quantification of US-detected tenosynovitis and other tendon abnormalities and the metric properties of US according to the OMERACT filter for evaluating the above tendon lesions.
RESULTS
Thirty-three of 192 identified articles were included in the review. Most articles were case series (42%) or case-control (33%) studies describing hand and/or foot tenosynovitis in RA patients. The majority of older articles used only B-mode, whereas the most recent studies have incorporated Doppler mode. Definition of tenosynovitis or other tendon lesion was provided in 70% of the evaluated studies. Most of the studies (61%) used a binary score for evaluating tendon abnormalities. Concerning the OMERACT filter, 24 (73%) articles dealt with construct validity. The comparator most commonly used was clinical assessment and MRI. There were few studies assessing criterion validity. Some studies evaluated reliability (36%), responsiveness (21%) and feasibility (12%).
CONCLUSION
US seems a promising tool for evaluating inflammatory tendon lesions. However, further validation is necessary for implementation in clinical practice and trials.
Topics: Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Joint Diseases; Reproducibility of Results; Severity of Illness Index; Synovial Membrane; Tendons; Tenosynovitis; Ultrasonography, Doppler
PubMed: 22378717
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kes018 -
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery (Hong... 2020Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most common complication after artificial joint replacement as previously reported. However, the main problem at present is... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most common complication after artificial joint replacement as previously reported. However, the main problem at present is its difficulty in diagnosis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of -defensin, D-dimer, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in clinical practice.
METHOD
Online databases were systematically searched until June 18th, 2020 with keywords and medical sub-headings terms. Studies mentioned the sensitivity and specificity of biological markers in detecting PJI were included in our study. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratios (DORs) were obtained after integration.
RESULTS
A total of 34 studies with 1036 patients diagnosing as PJI were included for comparing -defensin, D-dimer, and IL-6. The sensitivity and specificity of -defensin for PJI were 0.88 and 0.96, and the DOR was 189 (95% CI 72-496), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of D-dimer (0.82 and 0.72) and IL-6 (0.80 and 0.89) were lower than -defensin.
CONCLUSION
The detection of -defensin is a promising biomarker for diagnosing PJI. The optional cut-off needs to be curtained when using other biomarkers.
Topics: Biomarkers; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; Humans; Interleukin-6; Prosthesis-Related Infections; Synovial Fluid; alpha-Defensins
PubMed: 33225796
DOI: 10.1177/2309499020971861 -
Cartilage Jun 2023Traumatic knee injury results in a 4- to 10-fold increased risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Currently, there are no successful interventions for preventing...
BACKGROUND
Traumatic knee injury results in a 4- to 10-fold increased risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Currently, there are no successful interventions for preventing PTOA after knee injury. The aim of this study is to identify inflammatory proteins that are increased in serum and synovial fluid after acute knee injury, excluding intra-articular fractures.
METHODS
A literature search was done according to the PRISMA guidelines. Articles reporting about inflammatory proteins after knee injury, except fractures, up to December 8, 2021 were collected. Inclusion criteria were as follows: patients younger than 45 years, no radiographic signs of knee osteoarthritis at baseline, and inflammatory protein measurement within 1 year after trauma. Risk of bias was assessed of the included studies. The level of evidence was determined by the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy.
RESULTS
Ten studies were included. All included studies used a healthy control group or the contralateral knee as healthy control. Strong evidence for interleukin 6 (IL-6) and limited evidence for CCL4 show elevated concentrations of these proteins in synovial fluid (SF) after acute knee injury; no upregulation in SF for IL-2, IL-10, CCL3, CCL5, CCL11, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was found. Limited evidence was found for no difference in serum concentration of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, CCL2, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) after knee injury.
CONCLUSION
Interleukin 6 and CCL4 are elevated in SF after acute knee injury. Included studies failed to demonstrate increased concentration of inflammatory proteins in SF samples taken 6 weeks after trauma. Future research should focus on SF inflammatory protein measurements taken less than 6 weeks after injury.
Topics: Humans; Synovial Fluid; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-10; Biomarkers; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Knee Injuries; Fractures, Bone
PubMed: 36661182
DOI: 10.1177/19476035221141417 -
Cells Apr 2021Intra-articular fractures are a major cause of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Despite adequate surgical treatment, the long-term risk for PTOA is high. Previous...
Intra-articular fractures are a major cause of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Despite adequate surgical treatment, the long-term risk for PTOA is high. Previous studies reported that joint injuries initiate an inflammatory cascade characterized by an elevation of synovial pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can lead to cartilage degradation and PTOA development. This review summarizes the literature on the post-injury regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the markers of cartilage destruction in patients suffering from intra-articular fractures. We searched Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases (1960-February 2020) and included studies that were performed on human participants, and we included control groups. Two investigators assessed the quality of the included studies using Covidence and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Based on the surveyed literature, several synovial pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, interferon-y, and tumor necrosis factor-α, were significantly elevated in patients suffering from intra-articular fractures compared to the control groups. A simultaneous elevation of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-1RA was also observed. In contrast, IL-13, CTX-II, and aggrecan concentrations did not differ significantly between the compared cohorts. Overall, intra-articular fractures are associated with an increase in inflammation-related synovial cytokines. However, more standardized studies which focus on the ratio of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines at different time points are needed.
Topics: Case-Control Studies; Cytokines; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Intra-Articular Fractures; Joints; Synovial Fluid
PubMed: 33919965
DOI: 10.3390/cells10040902 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022A prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication following total joint arthroplasties with poor prognosis. Identifying an accurate and prompt diagnostic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
A prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication following total joint arthroplasties with poor prognosis. Identifying an accurate and prompt diagnostic method is particularly important for PJI. Recently, the diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in detecting PJI has attracted much attention, while the evidence of its accuracy is quite limited. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of mNGS for the diagnosis of PJI.
METHODS
We summarized published studies to identify the potential diagnostic value of mNGS for PJI patients by searching online databases using keywords such as "prosthetic joint infection", "PJI", and "metagenomic sequencing". Ten of 380 studies with 955 patients in total were included. The included studies provided sufficient data for the completion of 2-by-2 tables. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the SROC curve (AUC) to evaluate mNGS for PJI diagnosis.
RESULTS
We found that the pooled diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of mNGS for PJI were 0.93 (95% CI, 0.83 to 0.97) and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92 to 0.97), respectively. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 18.3 (95% CI, 10.9 to 30.6) and 0.07 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.18), respectively. The area under the curve was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93 to 0.97).
CONCLUSION
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing displays high accuracy in the diagnosis of PJI, especially for culture-negative cases.
Topics: Arthritis, Infectious; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Metagenomics; Prosthesis-Related Infections; Sensitivity and Specificity; Synovial Fluid
PubMed: 35755833
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.875822 -
Arthritis Care & Research Jan 2014To determine the current status of positron emission tomography (PET) as a tool for diagnosis and monitoring of peripheral inflammatory arthritis (IA). (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To determine the current status of positron emission tomography (PET) as a tool for diagnosis and monitoring of peripheral inflammatory arthritis (IA).
METHODS
For conducting this systematic review, the PubMed (Medline), Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched until December 31, 2012. Studies of PET for diagnosis and/or therapy monitoring of peripheral IA were included. Data were summarized qualitatively using best evidence synthesis.
RESULTS
Eighteen articles met our inclusion criteria. The majority of studies were feasibility studies with varying methods applied. All studies demonstrated that PET visualized IA with high sensitivity, corresponding to clinical assessments. PET outcome of clinically active IA also matched that of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. PET differentiates from other modalities by (quantitative) imaging of molecular sites in the synovium. The first studies reporting on the potential clinical applications of PET to image subclinical synovitis in preclinical RA and during therapy have been published. The results are promising, but the number and study populations of these studies are still limited.
CONCLUSION
Thus far, a limited number of PET studies addressing IA imaging have been published. The PET modality seems to offer highly sensitive and potentially specific imaging of IA at the (quantitative) molecular level. Clinical application studies for early diagnostics and therapy monitoring are arising, but these topics should be further explored in future studies with larger cohorts. For integration in clinical practice, aspects such as radiation burden and cost-effectiveness should also be taken into account.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antirheumatic Agents; Arthritis; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Management; Female; Humans; Infant; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Positron-Emission Tomography; Sensitivity and Specificity; Synovial Membrane; Ultrasonography; Young Adult
PubMed: 24124027
DOI: 10.1002/acr.22184 -
Reumatologia Clinica Mar 2024Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity has shown good performance in diagnosing pleural, peritoneal, and meningeal tuberculosis. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity has shown good performance in diagnosing pleural, peritoneal, and meningeal tuberculosis. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the performance of measuring ADA activity in synovial fluid for the early diagnosis of joint tuberculosis.
METHODS
We searched published information in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and MedRxiv databases, as well as unpublished information in the American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism for conference abstracts (2012-2021). We also scanned the reference lists of articles. Two reviewers independently applied the criteria for selection, assessed quality, and extracted data (PROSPERO number CRD42021284472).
RESULTS
Seven independent studies (N=305 subjects) that compared ADA activity in synovial fluid with a composite reference diagnostic method for tuberculosis were included. Overall, the risk of bias was judged low. Studies were classified as high quality (n=3; 148 subjects) and low quality (n=4; 157 subjects). Pooled sensitivity and specificity of ADA activity was 94% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89-98; I=23%) and 88% (95% CI, 83-92; I=83%), respectively. The random-effects model for pooled diagnostic Odds ratio was 67.1 (95%CI, 20.3-222.2; I=30%). The receiver operating characteristic curve area was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.92-0.99). Meta-regression did not identify the quality of the study, country of publication, or the type of assay as a source of heterogeneity.
CONCLUSIONS
Measuring ADA activity in synovial fluid demonstrates good performance for the early diagnosis of joint tuberculosis.
Topics: Humans; Adenosine Deaminase; Synovial Fluid; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular; Arthritis
PubMed: 38494302
DOI: 10.1016/j.reumae.2024.02.002 -
Cartilage Dec 2021Biomarkers in osteoarthritis (OA) could serve as objective clinical indicators for various disease parameters, and act as surrogate endpoints in clinical trials for...
OBJECTIVE
Biomarkers in osteoarthritis (OA) could serve as objective clinical indicators for various disease parameters, and act as surrogate endpoints in clinical trials for disease-modifying drugs. The aim of this systematic review was to produce a comprehensive list of candidate molecular biomarkers for knee OA after the 2013 ESCEO review and discern whether any have been studied in sufficient detail for use in clinical settings.
DESIGN
MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched between August 2013 and May 2018 using the keywords "knee osteoarthritis," "osteoarthritis," and "biomarker." Studies were screened by title, abstract, and full text. Human studies on knee OA that were published in the English language were included. Excluded were studies on genetic/imaging/cellular markers, studies on participants with secondary OA, and publications that were review/abstract-only. Study quality and bias were assessed. Statistically significant data regarding the relationship between a biomarker and a disease parameter were extracted.
RESULTS
A total of 80 studies were included in the final review and 89 statistically significant individual molecular biomarkers were identified. C-telopeptide of type II collagen (CTXII) was shown to predict progression of knee OA in urine and serum in multiple studies. Synovial fluid vascular endothelial growth factor concentration was reported by 2 studies to be predictive of knee OA progression.
CONCLUSION
Despite the clear need for biomarkers of OA, the lack of coordination in current research has led to incompatible results. As such, there is yet to be a suitable biomarker to be used in a clinical setting.
Topics: Biomarkers; Collagen Type I; Collagen Type II; Genetic Markers; Humans; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Peptides; Synovial Fluid; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
PubMed: 32680434
DOI: 10.1177/1947603520941239