Musculoskeletal involvement and ultrasonography update in systemic lupus erythematosus: New insights and review

Abstract

Ultrasonography has been rarely used to measure musculoskeletal and joint activity in systemic lupuserythematosus (SLE). The aim of this review is to discuss the utility and reliability of this non-invasivediagnostic tool for the assessment of joint disease in SLE patients. In the last decade, several reportshave highlighted the role of ultrasonography for a better evaluation of SLE-related musculoskeletalsymptoms. The symptoms have also been associated with worse outcomes in SLE; therefore, it isessential to seek useful and accessible techniques for better understanding of such patients who areinsufficiently assessed by standard physical examination.