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- Santiago, Tânia, et al.
(författare)
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Recommendations for the execution and reporting of skin ultrasound in systemic sclerosis : an international collaboration under the WSF skin ultrasound group
- 2022
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Ingår i: RMD Open. - : BMJ. - 2056-5933. ; 8:2
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Ultrasound is a promising tool to foster much-needed improvement of skin assessment in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our aim was to develop evidence and expert opinion-based recommendations to promote the standardisation and harmonisation of technical execution and reporting of skin ultrasound studies in SSc. Methods A multidisciplinary task force of 16 members from five European countries and Japan was convened under the auspices of World Scleroderma Foundation. First, a systematic literature review (SLR) was performed. Then, each member proposed and formulated items to the overarching principles, recommendations and research agenda. Two rounds of mails exchange for consensus as well as an on-line meeting were performed to debate and refine the proposals. Two Delphi rounds of voting resulted in the final recommendations. Levels of evidence and strengths of recommendations were assigned, and task force members voted anonymously on the level of agreement with each of the items. Results Five overarching principles and seven recommendations were developed, based on an SLR and expert opinion, through consensus procedures. The overarching principles highlight the promising role of skin ultrasound in SSc assessment, the need for standardisation of technical aspects, sufficient training and adequate equipment. The recommendations provide standards for the execution and reporting of skin ultrasound in SSc. The research agenda includes the need for more research into unmet needs according to Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Algorithm requirements. Conclusion These are the first recommendations providing guidance on the execution and reporting of skin ultrasound in SSc patients, aiming at improving the interpretability, reliability and generalisability of skin ultrasound, thus consolidating its role in research and practice.
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| 2. |
- Santiago, Tânia, et al.
(författare)
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Ultrasound and elastography in the assessment of skin involvement in systemic sclerosis : A systematic literature review focusing on validation and standardization – WSF Skin Ultrasound Group
- 2022
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Ingår i: Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. - : Elsevier BV. - 0049-0172. ; 52
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To summarize the published evidence in the literature on the role of ultrasound and elastography to assess skin involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed within the “Skin Ultrasound Working Group” of the World Scleroderma Foundation, according to the Cochrane Handbook. A search was conducted in Pubmed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases from 1/1/1979 to 31/5/2021, using the participants, intervention, comparator and outcomes (PICO) framework. Only full-text articles involving adults, reported in any language, assessing ultrasound to quantify skin pathology in SSc patients. Two reviewers performed the assessment of risk of bias, data extraction and synthesis, independently. Results: Forty-six studies out of 3248 references evaluating skin ultrasound and elastography domains were included. B-mode ultrasound was used in 30 studies (65.2%), elastography in nine (19.6%), and both methods in seven (15.2%). The ultrasound outcome measure domains reported were thickness (57.8%) and echogenicity (17.2%); the elastography domain was stiffness (25%). Methods used for image acquisition and analysis were remarkably heterogeneous and frequently under-reported, precluding data synthesis across studies. The same applies to contextual factors and feasibility. Our data syntheses indicated evidence of good reliability and convergent validity for ultrasound thickness evaluation against mRSS and skin histological findings. Stiffness and echogenicity have limited evidence for validity against histological findings. Evidence for sensitivity to change, test-retest reliability, clinical trial discrimination or thresholds of meaning is limited or absent for reported ultrasound domains. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a valid and reliable tool for skin thickness measurement in SSc but there are significant knowledge gaps regarding skin echogenicity assessment by ultrasound and skin stiffness evaluation by elastography in terms of feasibility, validity and discrimination. Standardization of image acquisition and analysis is needed to foster progress.
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