Ultrasound Imaging Biomarkers in Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Diseases: Linking Immunopathological Mechanisms to Clinical Applications.

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases encompass a broad and heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by dysregulated immune responses, leading to chronic inflammation, tissue damage, and progressive organ dysfunction. Despite significant advances in immunology and targeted therapies, major challenges persist in accurately assessing disease activity, identifying subclinical inflammation, predicting outcomes, and monitoring therapeutic response in real-world clinical practice.In this context, ultrasound has emerged as a powerful, non-invasive, and highly accessible imaging modality, capable of providing real-time, high-resolution insights into inflammatory processes across multiple organ systems. Beyond its traditional diagnostic role, ultrasound is increasingly recognized as a source of imaging biomarkers that reflect underlying immunopathological mechanisms, bridging the gap between molecular inflammation and clinical expression.Recent developments in grayscale imaging, Doppler techniques, elastography, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound have expanded the capacity of ultrasound to detect active inflammation, microvascular changes, tissue stiffness, and early structural alterations. These parameters offer objective, reproducible measures that can complement clinical assessment, laboratory biomarkers, and other imaging modalities, supporting treat-to-target strategies and personalized medicine in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.This Research Topic aims to explore the role of ultrasound imaging biomarkers as translational tools, linking immunopathological mechanisms to clinical applications across a wide spectrum of autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions. By integrating perspectives from basic immunology, translational research, and clinical practice, the Topic seeks to highlight how ultrasound-derived biomarkers can improve disease phenotyping, risk stratification, monitoring of disease activity, and evaluation of therapeutic response.We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to:- Ultrasound biomarkers of inflammation, vascularity, and tissue remodeling;- Associations between ultrasound findings and underlying immunological pathways;- Applications across systemic and organ-specific autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases;- Ultrasound assessment of extra-articular manifestations, including ocular inflammation (e.g., uveitis in psoriatic arthritis), vasculitis, etc;- Methodological advances, validation studies, and standardization of ultrasound techniques;- Translational and clinical studies evaluating outcomes, prognosis, and treatment response.By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between immunologists, clinicians, and imaging specialists, this Research Topic intends to provide a comprehensive and forward-looking overview of how ultrasound can serve as a biologically meaningful and clinically actionable imaging biomarker platform in immune-mediated diseases.*Please note: Manuscripts that focus solely on ultrasound (e.g., imaging technique or diagnostic performance) without providing insights into immune-related mechanisms relevant to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of autoimmune disorders are out of scope for this journal. Topic editors: José Alexandre Mendonça, Ingrid Möller Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79513/ultrasound-imaging-biomarkers-in-autoimmune-and-autoinflammatory-diseases-linking-immunopathological-mechanisms-to-clinical-applications