This review discusses the usefulness of ultrasound in the early diagnosis of reumathoid arthritis, its utilization in these patients treatment and its utility in evaluation of the response to treatment. Reumathoid arthritis is a chronic disease that when it is not promptly diagnosed it can cause physical deformity and disability to work. The early introduction of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), no matter traditional or newer (biologic agents), may modify the disease outcome. In order that , the diagnosis of RA must be made as soon as possible. Ultrasound makes possible to study the joints and can show signs of inflammatory activity, especially synovitis. Color Doppler and power Doppler can help differentiate between active inflammatory tissue (pannus) and inactive inflammatory tissues. Erosions, tenossynovitis, bursitis, cysts and effusions can also be found. This article demonstrates that methods to quantify de inflammatory activity on ultrasound must yet be established.
rheumatoid arthritis; ultrasound; synovitis; erosion
