Quantitative ultrasound of the proximal phalanges: Reproducibility in erosive and nodal osteoarthritis of the hands

The aims of the study were to evaluate the reproducibility of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) densitometry of the hands and to verify whether this metho d is sensitive to phalangeal bone changes occurring in osteoarthritis patie nts and in erosive osteoarthritis patients. We studied 60 postmenopausal wo men (aged 63.8 +/- 3.2): 20 had osteoarthritis, 20 had erosive osteoarthrit is, 20 were postmenopausal without local pathology of the hand and eight we re premenopausal (aged 23.5 +/- 3.4). The patients were evaluated by means of a DBM Sonic 1200 which is able to evaluate ultrasound transmission veloc ity (amplitude-dependent speed of sound). The results indicated good intra- and interoperator reproducibility (coefficient of variation = 0.99% and 1. 04%) in the premenopausal group. The ultrasound device was able to discrimi nate between the different groups and detected differences between the QUS values of erosive osteoarthritis patients, osteoarthritis patients and cont rol subjects. QUS densitometry is reproducible and sensitive to bone change s occurring in patients with osteoarthritis and as well as in those with er osive osteoarthritis.