Early RA: Baseline Wrist Ultrasound Tied to AI Carpal Compactness Changes

In 159 early rheumatoid arthritis patients, baseline wrist ultrasound inflammation correlated with later AI-derived carpal compactness changes on radiographs (r 0.18–0.25), but compactness did not track Sharp/van der Heijde scores.

• AI-derived compactness metrics (RMSR, MPD, R50, R90) at baseline, follow-up, and annualized change were not significantly associated with conventional wrist Sharp/van der Heijde radiographic scores.
• Patients with positive gray-scale or power Doppler ultrasound activity showed greater subsequent increases in compactness metrics on subgroup analysis.

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