Musculoskeletal ultrasound in hemophilia: Results and recommendations from a global survey and consensus meeting
Abstract Introduction For persons with hemophilia, optimization of joint outcomes is an important unmet need. The aim of this initiative was to determine use of ultrasound in evaluating arthropathy in persons with hemophilia, and to move toward consensus among hemophilia care providers regarding the preferred ultrasound protocols for global adaptation. Methods A global survey of hemophilia treatment centers was conducted that focused on understanding how and why ultrasound was being used and endeavored to move toward consensus definitions of both point‐of‐care musculoskeletal ultrasound (POC‐MSKUS) and full diagnostic ultrasound, terminology to describe structures being assessed by ultrasou…
Ultrasound evaluation of joint damage and disease activity in adult patients with severe haemophilia A using the HEAD‐US system
Introduction The Haemophilia Early Arthropathy Detection with Ultrasound (HEAD-US) system and scoring scale has proven to be an accurate and time-efficient imaging method for identifying joint damage in patients with haemophilia. Aim Observational, multicentre, cross-sectional study conducted in 8 centres in Spain that assessed the joint status of adult patients with severe haemophilia A (SHA) using HEAD-US. Methods Joint status of the elbow, knee and ankle was evaluated in adults with SHA receiving on-demand (OD) treatment, or primary (PP), secondary (SP), tertiary (TP) or intermittent (IP) prophylaxis. Results Of the 95 patients enrolled, 87 received prophylaxis (6.3% PP, 38.9% SP, 43.2% …
Diagnosis and treatment of chronic synovitis in patients with haemophilia: consensus statements from the Italian Association of Haemophilia Centres
Although synovitis is recognized as a marker of joint disease activity, its periodic assessment is not included in routine clinical surveillance of patients with haemophilia (PwH). In order to evaluate the current knowledge and to identify controversial issues, a preliminary literature search by the Musculoskeletal Committee of the Italian Association of Haemophilia Centres (AICE) has been conducted. Statements have been established and sent to the Italian AICE members to collect their level of agreement or disagreement by a Delphi process. Thirty-seven consensus recommendations have been drafted. We found a general agreement on the indication to consider the presence of synovitis as a mark…