Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40634709›Full record

Observational studyArchives of gynecology and obstetrics2025

Deciphering the influence of pregnancy on rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis: insights from musculoskeletal ultrasound dynamics.

Caroline I Ziegler, Florian Recker, Charlotte Behning, Pia Mielczarek, Brigitte Strizek, Simon M Petzinna, Valentin S Schäfer

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Caroline I Ziegler *Medical Clinic III for Oncology, Hematology, Immune-Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
Florian Recker *Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany. florian.recker@ukbonn.de.
Charlotte BehningInstitute for Medical Biometry, Informatics, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
Pia MielczarekInstitute for Medical Biometry, Informatics, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
Brigitte StrizekDepartment of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
Simon M Petzinna *Medical Clinic III for Oncology, Hematology, Immune-Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
Valentin S Schäfer *Medical Clinic III for Oncology, Hematology, Immune-Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis prospective observational, hypothesis-generating study aims to investigate the impact of pregnancy on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) using musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and to explore the potential of MSUS to enhance disease monitoring during pregnancy.

methodsThe study enrolled female participants divided into four groups: pregnant women with RA or PsA, non-pregnant women with RA or PsA, healthy pregnant women, and healthy non-pregnant women. Disease activity was assessed using the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) score and the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID) score, as well as self-reported questionnaires on health perception. MSUS was performed using the Butterfly iQ portable ultrasound scanner, with synovial hypertrophy and joint effusion assessed via the Advanced Sonography of Large Joints in Rheumatology (aSOLAR) score.

resultsA total of 105 participants were included: 15 pregnant women with RA or PsA, 30 non-pregnant women with RA or PsA, 30 healthy pregnant women, and 30 healthy non-pregnant women. In pregnant women with RA, conventional disease activity scores and the aSOLAR score showed lower values over the course of pregnancy. In contrast, non-pregnant RA patients generally presented with higher scores in both conventional assessments and the aSOLAR score. Among pregnant PsA patients, conventional scores appeared lower over time, while the aSOLAR score showed comparatively higher values in later pregnancy. Self-reported health perception was more favorable in pregnant RA and PsA patients than in their non-pregnant counterparts. The CRP levels tended to be lower in later pregnancy phases among both RA and PsA patients.

conclusionThis pioneering study demonstrates the potential impact of pregnancy on the disease activity of RA and PsA. It emphasizes the exploratory potential of MSUS as an imaging biomarker in the assessment of these conditions during pregnancy. The observed discrepancies between conventional, self-reported diagnostic tools and ultrasound findings support the hypothesis that objective imaging modalities may improve disease monitoring. Our findings warrant further validation in larger, confirmatory studies.

Indexed as

Arthritis, PsoriaticArthritis, RheumatoidPregnancy ComplicationsAdultCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansPregnancyProspective StudiesSeverity of Illness IndexUltrasonographyAutoimmune diseaseHealth status indicatorsPregnancySynovitisUltrasonography

Identifiers

PMID40634709
PMCPMC12414085

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Registered trials

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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.