OBJECTIVES : The serum levels of CRP,ESR,RF,anti-CCP and the knee joint high-frequency color Doppler ultrasonography were detected in patients of ERA and NERA,respectively.The correlation between ultrasonographic (US) knee abnormalities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and levels of CRP,ESR were investigated.

METHODS : 60 RA patients were divided into two groups, 24 cases in ERA group and 36 cases in NERA group were enrolled in this study. Demographical and Clinical data were recorded, including aging、sex、duration、positive signs of limited shoulder movement、DAS28、serum markers,such as RF、anti-CCP、CRP and ESR.

RESULTS : 1.The level of CRP and ESR were significantly higher in NERA group than that in ERA group（P=0.002，0.001）Positive rate of RF was significantly higher in NERA group（0.028）,Positive rate of anti-CCP was not significantly different between NERA and ERA group;2. In the ERA patients, the proportion of suprapatellar bursa effusion was higher than the NERA group,while that of synovitis in NERA was higher than ERA group; 3. Synovitis and synovial blood flow score in NERA group were significantly correlated with DAS28,CRP and ESR.None of the ultrasonography in ERA group was significantly correlated with DAS 28,CRP and ESR.

CONCLUSIONS : High-frequency color Doppler ultrasonography detected accurately the abnormalities of knee joint,it was valuable in the diagnosis of knee in RA patients.