Efficacy of Abatacept for Arthritis in Patients with an Overlap Syndrome between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Figure 4

Ultrasound images of hands in Case 3 before and after treatment. Shown are the representative ultrasound images of the left hand before treatment (a–d) and after 24 weeks of abatacept treatment (e–h). Ultrasound images before treatment reveal moderate synovial hypertrophy with moderate Doppler signals in the 3rd proximal interphalangeal joint (a) and severe synovial hypertrophy with moderate Doppler signals in the flexor tendon of the 3rd finger (b) and extensor carpi ulnaris longitudinal view (c) (see also webvideo 1) and transverse view (d) (see also webvideo 2). Corresponding ultrasound images after abatacept treatment demonstrate marked improvement (e–h). PP: proximal phalanx; MP: middle phalanx; FD: flexor digitorum; ECU: extensor carpi ulnaris.