Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease manifested by inflammation in synovial tissue and destruction of articular components, which in case if not controlled properly, can lead to disability in patients. Therefore, it's very important to analyse the activity and control of this disease. In recent years’ sonography use is on the rise for the evaluation of disease activity.

The purpose of this study was to compare “clinical examination” and “ultrasonography” methods for the detection of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2015 in Al-Zahra Hospital of Isfahan. 90 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis by rheumatologist participated in the study, based on American College of Rheumatology 2010 criteria. All patients, collaborator by radiologists were subjected to sonography of specific joints structures using two methods, i.e., high-resolution ultrasonography and power Doppler.

During study total of 2520 joints from 90 patients were examined physically and through ultrasonography. 244 joints (9.7%) were detected in physical examination. 348 joints (13.4%) were detected by ultrasonography. The frequency of joints involvement between the two groups was different in physical examination and ultrasonography (P < 0.001).
So the study concludes that probably ultrasonography can diagnose joint involvement better than physical examination in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis.