Imaging tools to measure treatment response in gout

Nicola Dalbeth; Anthony J Doyle

doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kex445

Imaging tools to measure treatment response in gout

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2018 Jan 1;57(suppl_1):i27-i34. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kex445.

Authors

Nicola Dalbeth¹, Anthony J Doyle²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
² Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

PMID: 29272513
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kex445

Abstract

Imaging tests are in clinical use for diagnosis, assessment of disease severity and as a marker of treatment response in people with gout. Various imaging tests have differing properties for assessing the three key disease domains in gout: urate deposition (including tophus burden), joint inflammation and structural joint damage. Dual-energy CT allows measurement of urate deposition and bone damage, and ultrasonography allows assessment of all three domains. Scoring systems have been described that allow radiological quantification of disease severity and these scoring systems may play a role in assessing the response to treatment in gout. This article reviews the properties of imaging tests, describes the available scoring systems for quantification of disease severity and discusses the challenges and controversies regarding the use of imaging tools to measure treatment response in gout.

Keywords: dual energy computed tomography; gout; imaging; radiology; ultrasound.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Gout / diagnosis*
Gout / drug therapy*
Gout Suppressants / therapeutic use*
Humans
Severity of Illness Index
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
Ultrasonography / methods*

Substances

Gout Suppressants