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Table 2 Correlation matrix of ultrasound parameters with angiogenic, lymphangiogenic cytokine expression and cellular infiltration

From: Angiogenic gene expression and vascular density are reflected in ultrasonographic features of synovitis in early rheumatoid arthritis: an observational study

US parameter

PSS

SQuant

PQuant

PDHi

PQuant/SQuant

TNF-α

0.46*

0.74*

0.61*

0.60*

0.59*

IL-6

0.30

0.69*

0.59*

0.56*

0.57*

IL-1β

0.47*

0.81*

0.68*

0.64*

0.67*

Podoplanin

0.19

0.71*

0.43

0.15

0.32

Angiopoietin 1

0.4

0.37

0.22

0.11

0.23

Angiopoietin 2

0.5

0.74*

0.61*

0.46

0.56*

VEGF-R3

0.50*

0.61*

0.55*

0.36

0.47

VEGF-C

0.2

0.62*

0.39

0.14

0.29

VEGF-A

0.5

0.56*

0.52*

0.48*

0.54*

Tie-2

0.3

0.51*

0.44

0.19

0.34

Synovitis score

0.25

0.18

0.27

0.48*

0.31

CD68SL

0.29

0.35*

0.40*

0.51*

0.40*

CD68L

0.12

0.46*

0.18

0.33

0.09

CD20

0.02

0.24

0.25

0.38*

0.22

  1. Correlation was analysed using Spearman's rho. *Significant values (P <0.05). SQuant correlated with the majority of pro-inflammatory cytokines, angiogenic, lymphangiogenic gene expression and macrophage lining and sublining infiltration. PSS, power Doppler semiquantitative score; SQuant, quantitative synovial thickness area; PQuant, quantitative power Doppler area; PDHi, quantitative thresholded power Doppler area; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor, Tie, Tyrosine kinase (predominant endothelial cell expression), CD68SL, macrophage marker (synovial sublining layer), CD68L, macrophage marker (synovial lining layer).