Reliability, validity and feasibility of nail ultrasonography in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity32 @entity571 @entity5835 @entity603 @entity5144 @entity4932 @entity158 @entity1851
OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility, reliability and validity of nails ultrasonography in @entity5144 as an outcome measure. METHODS: Pilot prospective single-centre study of eight ultrasonography parameters in B mode and power Doppler concerning the @entity571 ( @entity571 ) joint, the matrix, the bed and nail plate. Intra-observer and inter-observer reliability was evaluated for the seven quantitative parameters ( @entity5835 and kappa). Correlations between ultrasonography and clinical variables were searched to assess external validity. Feasibility was assessed by the time to carry out the examination and the percentage of missing data. RESULTS: Twenty-seven @entity1 with @entity5144 (age 55.0  16.2 years, disease duration 13.4  9.4 years) were included. Of these, 67% presented nail involvement on ultrasonography vs 37% on physical examination (P<0.05). Reliability was good ( @entity5835 and weighted kappa>0.75) for the seven quantitative parameters, except for @entity603 of the @entity571 joint in B mode. The @entity603 of the @entity571 joint revealed by ultrasonography correlated with the total number of clinical @entity603 and Doppler US of the nail (matrix and bed). Doppler US of the matrix correlated with @entity158 but not with the @entity1851 or with clinical @entity4932 . No significant correlation was found with US nail thickness. CONCLUSION: The feasibility and reliability of ultrasonography of the nail in @entity5144 appear to be satisfactory. Among the eight parameters evaluated, power Doppler of the matrix which correlated with @entity32 ( @entity571 joint and bed) and with @entity158 could become an interesting outcome measure, provided that it is also sensitive to change.
