Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with significant functional limitations and disability. Diagnosing RA begins with a thorough medical history of the patient, focusing on the presence, location, and duration of joint pain and stiffness as well as physical assessment of synovitis. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate Joint Inflammatory Activity by Clinical Evaluation and Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in RA Patients Receiving Non-biologic versus Biologic DMARDs Patients and Methods: A Prospective comparative study included 40 Rheumatoid arthritis cases received non-biologic versus biologic DMARDs, fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology/ European League against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) 2010 classification criteria for diagnosis of RA. This study was conducted in Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. Patients had been randomized into two groups: Group A: (20 patients), received conventional DMARDs, group B: (20 patients), received biologic DMARDs. Results: There is significant difference between the two studied groups regarding hand PD score. There was no significant difference between the two studied groups as regard knee and ankle US.There was no significant difference between the two studied groups as regard Synovial effusion and synovial hypertrophy. There was a significant correlation between PD score with Anti-CCP, DAS28, HAQ and TJC in RA patients in group A. While there was a significant correlation between PD score with RF, Anti-CCP, DAS28 and HAQ. There was a significant correlation between GS score with RF, and DAS28 in RA patients in group A. While there was a significant correlation between PD score with Anti-CCP and DAS28

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