Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32360727›Full record

ArticleChest2020

Prognostic Value of Lung Ultrasound B-Lines in Systemic Sclerosis.

Luna Gargani, Cosimo Bruni, Chiara Romei, Paolo Frumento, Antonella Moreo, Gergely Agoston, Serena Guiducci, Silvia Bellando-Randone, Gemma Lepri, Laura Belloli and 10 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Chest, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 52 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
52citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
6.6field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

52 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 93 citations in OpenAlex.

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  10. Thoracic ultrasound in interstitial lung disease.Breathe (Sheffield, England) · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors at 7 institutions in 2 countries.

Luna GarganiInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: gargani@ifc.cnr.it.
Cosimo BruniDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Chiara Romei2nd Radiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisa, Italy.
Paolo FrumentoDepartment of Political Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Antonella MoreoDepartment of Political Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Gergely AgostonCardiology and Rheumatology Department, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Serena GuiducciDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Silvia Bellando-RandoneDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Gemma LepriDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Laura BelloliDepartment of Political Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Alessandra Della RossaDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary and Rheumatology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Andrea Delle SedieDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary and Rheumatology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Chiara StagnaroDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary and Rheumatology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Michele De NesInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.
Stefano SalvadoriInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.
Marta MoscaDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary and Rheumatology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Fabio Falaschi2nd Radiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisa, Italy.
Oscar EpisDepartment of Political Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Eugenio PicanoInstitute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.
Marco Matucci-CerinicDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
University of Pisa · ITUniversity of Florence · ITAzienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana · ITIstituto di Fisiologia Clinica · ITNational Research Council · ITUniversity of Szeged · HUAzienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA high percentage of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients experience interstitial lung disease (ILD) during the disease course. Recent data have shown that lung ultrasound (LUS) can assess ILD by the evaluation of B-lines, the sonographic sign of pulmonary interstitial involvement. RESEARCH QUESTION: To establish the prognostic value of B-lines in a large number of patients with SSc. STUDY DESIGN AND

methodsA total of 396 consecutive patients with SSc, who were enrolled at three Rheumatology Departments, underwent a comprehensive LUS examination on the anterolateral and posterior chest for a total of 58 scanning sites. All available clinical, imaging, and functional data were recorded. Patients were followed after enrolment to establish the prognostic role of LUS.

resultsThe median number of B-lines was higher in patients with the diffuse cutaneous subset (44 vs 17 B-lines; P < .0001), topoisomerase I autoantibodies (39 vs 16 B-lines; P < .0001), and the presence of ILD at chest high-resolution CT (45 vs 9 B-lines; P < .0001). At multivariable analysis, the number of posterior B-lines ≥5 was associated with new development or worsening ILD (hazard ratio, 3.378; 95% CI, 1.137-9.994; P = .028), with additional value over topoisomerase I positivity. The prognostic value was further confirmed in the subgroup of patients with known ILD at baseline (hazard ratio, 1.010; 95% CI, 1.003-1.018; P = .008).

interpretationLung ultrasound B-lines are associated with worsening or development of pulmonary deterioration. In the near future, LUS might become part of the diagnostic and prognostic armamentarium in patients with SSc, which would allow a more sustainable and user-friendly approach to this very fragile population.

Indexed as

AdultAgedFemaleHumansLung Diseases, InterstitialMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisProspective StudiesScleroderma, SystemicUltrasonographyB-linesinterstitial lung diseaseprognosissystemic sclerosisultrasound

Identifiers

PMID32360727
OpenAlexW3021499915

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.