Ultrasonographic detection of enthesitis and its relation to clinical manifestations among Egyptian systemic sclerosis patients

Background Systemic sclerosis is a complex multi-systemic autoimmune disease with a wide range of its clinical manifestations; many systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients develop musculoskeletal manifestations during their course of illness. The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of sonographically detected entheseal alterations in a case-control study of systemic sclerosis patients and to evaluate the relationship between the presence of these alterations and the clinical systemic manifestations. Patients and controls were evaluated using B mode and power Doppler ultrasonography to detect presence of enthesitis and were scored using Madrid Sonography Enthesitis Index (MASEI). Results In SSc patients, the MASEI score was significantly higher than in control (P < 0.0001). Enthesitis was more prevalent among SSc patients compared to healthy controls, SSc patients with enthesitis had significantly more prevalence of diffuse subtypes (P < 0.001).SSc patients had significantly more prevalence of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (P < 0.001), digital ulcers (P < 0.001), pulmonary hypertension (P < 0.001), and arthralgia and arthritis (P < 0.001). Regarding nailfold capillaroscopy pattern, late pattern was significantly more prevalent among patients with enthesitis (P = 0.008). Age, ESR level, and modified Rodnan skin score were predictors for MASEI score. Conclusions Ultrasound features of enthesopathy were frequently presented in systemic sclerosis patients. The enthesopathy was correlated with inflammation and disease complications.