SONAR - Ultrasound Scoring in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis and Psoriasisarthritis

SONAR (Swiss Sonography Group in Arthritis and Rheuma-

tism) is a musculoskeletal ultrasound expert group founded in 2008. The group has developed a semi-quantitative score for Rheumatoid Arthritis using modified OMERACT

criteria for synovitis, tenosynovitis and erosions. The score in- cludes B mode and Powerdoppler mode in finger joints, wrists, elbows and knees, an erosion and tenosynovitis score and ad- ditional cartilage measurement in selected joints.

2015 we developed and introduced a semi-quantitative score for hip involvement in Spondyloarthritis and started teaching the score to rheumatologists nationwide (Sonar-Hip or CoxSo- nar Score).

Since 2008 we promote musculoskeletal ultrasound (msus) in the management of RA patients to increase the

role of msus in RA and to improve patient outcomes. The So- nar-group offers msus courses to improve practical skills.

The scientific commitee of the Sonar-group works with and supports the SCQM (www.scqm.ch)

In 2018, the SONAR group has decided to focus more on the use of ultrasound in psoriatic arthritis and spondylarthitis. We have started a project concerning the implementation of a newly defined ultrasound enthesitis score in the registry.

A preliminary score based on the OMERACT definition of ultra- sound elementary lesions observed in inflammatory enthesitis has been developped. The implementation process into SCQM has been finalyzed in 2019 followed by a validation study and teaching courses.