6 ± 12.4 years; age range 25–73 years). The duration of the disease ranged from 1 to 30 years. All patients were clinically examined by a rheumatologist who had more than 10 years of relevant clinical experience as a rheumatologist (MS) and was unaware of the US findings. At each clinical examination, 28 joints including the bilateral glenohumeral, elbow, wrist, metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal joints of the hands, and knee joints, were

assessed for tenderness and swelling. The tender joint count (TJC; range, 0–28) and swollen joint count (SJC; range, 0–28) were recorded for each patient. Each patient provided an overall assessment of their functional status using the global pain intensity visual SCH772984 price analog scale (VAS) score (VAS pain; range, 0–100). The disease activity of each patient was assessed by the Disease Activity Score for 28 joints (DAS28). Tests to determine selleck chemicals the CRP levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were performed on the same day when both clinical and sonographic examinations were conducted. All subjects were informed of the study procedure and purpose, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to participation. This study was conducted in accordance

with the guidelines of the 1995 Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the institutional ethics committee. Sonographic examinations were performed using the ProSound Alpha 10 (Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) with a 6.0–14.0 MHz linear array probe. This examination was performed by a board-certified sonographer (TW) blinded to the clinical information of each patient. Flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation was measured according to the 2007 Japanese guidelines for US assessment of FMD. FMD HSP90 was measured using brachial US after 15 min of rest in a quiet, dark, temperature-controlled room (25°C). All patients were assessed at similar times of the day. A high-resolution linear array transducer was coupled to computer-assisted

analysis software (e-TRACKING system, Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.) that used an automated edge detection system to measure the brachial artery diameter. Measurements were made from the anterior to posterior interface between the lumen and intima at end-diastole, in synchrony with the electrocardiographic R-wave. The right brachial artery was evaluated with high-resolution US at the elbow, 3–7 cm above the antecubital fossa, where it formed a straight segment in the supine position. The occlusion blood pressure cuff was placed around the right upper forearm, just below the antecubital fossa. The baseline longitudinal image of the artery was acquired for 30 s; the blood pressure cuff was subsequently inflated to 30 mmHg above systolic pressure for 5 min.