Express-diagnostics of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis

Introduction. Diseases of bones and joints have the third greatest impact on the health of the world population. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are uppermost inflammatory diseases of the joints. The aim of the study is the assessment of the ultrasonography and transillumination pulsooptometry of the knee joint as the diagnostic tools for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis. Materials and Methods. 2 266 people (29 % - rheumatoid arthritis, 62 % - osteoarthri-tis, 9 % - healthy), aged 19-75 years took part in the study. The ultrasonography and transillumination pulsooptometry were conducted. Measurements of hemodynamics and optical density were performed using the device and method of Z. M. Sigal (2007). Results. Various indicators were established, for example, the volume of synovial fluid in the suprapatellar bag for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Optical density for rheumatoid arthritis is three times less than for osteoarthritis. There are significant differences in the amplitude of pulse oscillations in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Discussion and Conclusions. The volume of synovial fluid in the suprapatellar bag of the knee joint with rheumatoid arthritis is higher than in osteoarthritis and normal: 55.8 cm3 and above and 3,29 cm3, 1,85 cm3 and below, respectively. With osteoarthritis and normal amount of synovial fluid did not differ significantly. The optical density in the suprapatellar bag of the knee joint for rheumatoid arthritis was 0.56 ± 0.2, the amplitude of pulse oscillations was 13.45 ± 3.62 mm. In osteoarthritis, these values were 1.63 ± 0.39 and 7.67 ± 1.62, respectively. These indicators are practically important for differential diagnostics of diseases; they indicate the presence or absence of fluid, inflammation and visualize bags. The rapid diagnostic method for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis developed by the authors includes ultrasonography of the suprapatellar bag and transil-lumination pulsooptometry.