Ultrasonographic characteristics of peripheral nerves in primary systemic vasculitis: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To explore the ultrasonographic characteristics of peripheral nerves in primary systemic vasculitis (psV).

Methods: Fifteen patients with psV, 36 with secondary systemic vasculitis (ssV) and 109 healthy controls (HC) were consecutively recruited. Nerve ultrasound was conducted to obtain cross-sectional area (CSA) at predetermined peripheral nerve sites and to detect hypervascularization.

Results: Nerve enlargement was detected in all 15 psV patients, mainly distributing in a multifocal pattern. Compared to ssV patients, remarkable nerve enlargement was showed at M2-M5, M8-M10 segment of the median nerve, U2-U4 segment, U8 and U10 point of ulnar nerve, upper trunk, fibular nerve and sciatic nerve (P < 0.05) in psV patients. Hypervascularization was detected in 8 (53.33%) psV and 17 (47.22%) ssV patients, respectively.

Conclusion: Multifocal nerve enlargement was common in patients with psV. Compared to patients with ssV, nerve enlargement in psV patients presented in the more proximal segment with a higher degree, possibly due to the differences in disease duration. Hypervascularization was common in psV patients and might be related to an active inflammatory state of the peripheral nerve.