Ultrasound Confirms Steroid Injection Effective for Treating Psoriatic Dactylitis

Steroid injection helps to resolve the extra-articular inflammation of psoriatic dactylitis of the hand as confirmed by ultrasound, according to a study published by Girolimetto et al in the rheumatology literature.

They conducted an observational, multicenter, prospective study of 88 cases of symptomatic hand dactylitis. Psoriatic arthritis was confirmed by high-frequency ultrasound, and evaluation included the presence of flexor tenosynovitis, soft tissue edema, peritendon extensor inflammation, and synovitis. These factors were evaluated again at 1-month and 3-month follow-up.

Patients were offered two treatment choices: local treatment with steroid injection or oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (systemic treatment; ST). Patients received the same treatment during the duration of the follow-up period.

At 3-month follow-up, patients who elected to receive steroid injections achieved remission as confirmed with ultrasound. Those who chose ST showed continued flexor tenosynovitis, soft tissue edema, and synovitis. Further, only localized steroid treatment was associated with remission of psoriatic dactylitis of the hand.

Reference
Girolimetto N, Macchioni P, Tinazzi I, et al. Ultrasound effectiveness of steroid injection for hand psoriatic dactylitis: results form a longitudinal observational study. Rheumatol Ther. Published online October 15, 2021. doi:10.1007/s40744-021-00383-z