Comparison of the median and ulnar nerves of rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy subjects by ultrasound

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate ulnar and median nerve cross-sectional areas (CSAs) by ultrasonography in RA patients who had no signs or symptoms of neurologic involvement.

Patients and methods: This case-control study was conducted with 76 participants (72 females, 4 males; mean age: 53.2+10.9 years; range, 18 to 65 years) between April 2011 and April 2013. Of the participants, 38 were RA patients without any signs or symptoms of ulnar or median nerve involvement, and 38 were healthy subjects. All participants were evaluated with ultrasound. The median and ulnar nerve CSAs were measured at the proximal inlet of the carpal tunnel using the pisiform bone as a landmark.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between patients and controls in terms of median and ulnar CSAs (p>0.05). There were no correlations between median and ulnar CSAs of the dominant hand and age, height, weight, and disease duration. The median nerve CSA was >10 mm² in 24% of the RA patients and 14% of controls, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.20).

Conclusion: Similar median and ulnar CSAs were detected in RA patients and healthy controls. These findings cannot rule out a subclinical neurologic involvement.

Citation: Atan Uzun Ç, Sunar İ, Günendi Z, Göğüş FN. Comparison of the median and ulnar nerves of rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy subjects by ultrasound. Arch Rheumatol 2023;38(2):183-188. doi: 10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9027.

The study protocol was approved by the Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee (date: 27.04.2011, no: 100). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

A written informed consent was obtained from each patient.

Idea/concept: Ç.A.U., F.G.; Design: Ç.A.U., F.G., Z.G.; Control/supervision: Z.G., F.G.; Data collection and/or processing, writing the article: Ç.A.U., ‹.S., Z.G.; Analysis and/or interpretation: Z.G., Ç.A.U., ‹.S., F.G.; literature review: Ç.A.U., ‹.S.; Critical review: Z.G., F.G.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.