Dr Gary Meenagh
Consultant Rheumatologist | Specialist in Joint & Muscle Pain
Dr Gary Meenagh is a Consultant Rheumatologist covering the Northern Trust region, based at Antrim Hospital and also performing clinics at the Ballymena Health & Care Centre. He is the current clinical director for rheumatology within the Northern Trust.
Dr Meenagh studied medicine at Queen’s University Belfast where he graduated with Honours in 1995 and trained in Rheumatology at Musgrave Park Hospital and at the University of Ancona, Italy. In 2005 he was awarded a Doctorate of Medicine from Queen’s University Belfast. In 2013 he was awarded a Diploma in Post-graduate Clinical Education at Queen’s University Belfast. Currently he holds an honorary lecturer post at Queen’s University Belfast.
He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (London) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. He is a member of the British Society for Rheumatology and the Irish Society for Rheumatology.
Currently he acts as an Educational Supervisor for Queens University Belfast overseeing the training needs of junior doctors at Antrim Hospital. In addition he is the current pastoral lead for Antrim and Holywell Hospitals.
Dr Meenagh has a wide research portfolio including osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and early inflammatory arthritis. He continues to collaborate with co-workers at the University of Ancona, Italy publishing articles regularly on musculoskeletal ultrasound in rheumatology.
The clinical service offered by Dr Meenagh at the Ulster Independent Clinic and at Kingsbridge private Hospital encompasses all aspects of adult rheumatology including rapid diagnosis and treatment of all types of inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis), soft tissue disorders (frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis etc), non-inflammatory pain disorders eg. Fibromyalgia and connective tissue disorders are also within his clinical remit.
Referrals can be made directly by General Practitioners, Hospital Consultants, other medical professionals and by patients themselves.
Qualifications
MB BCh BAO (with honours)
Queen's University Belfast, 1995
MD
Queen's University Belfast, 2005
FRCPI
2009
FRCP (UK)
2010
Diploma in Clinical Education
Queen’s University Belfast, 2013
Memberships
Academic & Research Involvement
Dr Meenagh has an extensive research portfolio and continues to publish internationally, particularly in the fields of inflammatory arthritis and ultrasound imaging.
Publications
The RESIST Study: Examining cognitive change in rheumatoid arthritis patients with mild cognitive impairment being treated with a TNF-inhibitor compared to a conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug – accepted for publication by Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 2024
Prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross sectional study McDowell B, Marr C, Holmes C, Edwards, C, Cardwell C, McHenry M, Meenagh G, McGuinness B BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22: 777
Postpartum piriformis pyomyositis following vaginal delivery McMullan C, Sweeney S, Hoey M, Meenagh G, Patterson B, Morgan D J Obstet Gynaecol. 2022;42:2511-2512
The impact of rheumatologist-performed ultrasound on diagnosis and management of inflammatory arthritis in routine clinical practice. Kelly S, Davidosn B, Keidel S, Gadola S, Gorman C, Meenagh G, Reynolds P. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord. 2017; 18(1):487
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XLII. Assessment of hip pain in rheumatic patients: the radiologist's view. Vitali S, Delle Sedie A, Filippucci E, Riente L, Iagnocco A, Sakellariou G, Meenagh G, Paolicchi A, Montecucco C, Valesini G, Grassi W, Bombardieri S, Caramella D. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2012 ;30:817-24
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XLI. Sonographic assessment of the hip in OA patients. Iagnocco A, Filippucci E, Riente L, Meenagh G, Delle Sedie A, Sakellariu G, Ceccarelli F, Montecucco C, Bombardieri S, Grassi W, Valesini G. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2012 ;30:652-7
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XL. Sonographic assessment of the hip in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Di Geso L, Filippucci E, Riente L, Sakellariou G, Delle Sedie A, Meenagh G, Iagnocco A, Bombardieri S, Montecucco C, Valesini G, Grassi W. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2012 ;30:464-8
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXXIX. Sonographic assessment of the hip in fibromyalgia patients. Meenagh G, Sakellariou G, Iagnocco A, Delle Sedie A, Riente L, Filippucci E, Di Geso L, Grassi W, Bombardieri S, Valesini G, Montecucco C. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2012 ;30:319-21
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXXVIII. Sonographic assessment of the hip in psoriatic arthritis patients. Riente L, Delle Sedie A, Sakellariou G, Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Iagnocco A, Cioffi E, Valesini G, Grassi W, Montecucco C, Bombardieri S. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2012 ;30:152-5.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXXVII. Sonographic assessment of the hip in ankylosing spondylitis patients. Sakellariou G, Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Riente L, Filippucci E, Delle Sedie A, Scirè CA, Bombardieri S, Grassi W, Valesini G, Montecucco C. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2012 ;30:1-5.
CS injection of tenosynovitis in patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis: the role of US. Di Geso L, Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Gutierrez M, Ciapetti A, Salaffi F, Grassi W. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2012 Apr 26.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXXVI. Sonographic assessment of the foot in gout patients. Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Delle Sedie A, Sakellariou G, Iagnocco A, Riente L, Gutierrez M, Bombardieri S, Valesini G, Montecucco C, Grassi W. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2011 ;29:901-5.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXXV. Sonographic assessment of the foot in patients with osteoarthritis. Iagnocco A, Filippucci E, Riente L, Meenagh G, Delle Sedie A, Sakellariou G, Ceccarelli F, Montecucco C, Bombardieri S, Grassi W, Valesini G. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2011 ;29:757-62.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXXIV. Sonographic assessment of the painful foot. Meenagh G, Sakellariou G, Iagnocco A, Delle Sedie A, Riente L, Filippucci E, Grassi W, Bombardieri S, Valesini G, Montecucco CM. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2011 ;29:601-3.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXXIII. Sonographic assessment of the foot in early arthritis patients. Scirè CA, Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Riente L, Filippucci E, Delle Sedie A, Sakellariou G, Bombardieri S, Grassi W, Valesini G, Montecucco C. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2011 ;29:465-9.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XXXII. Sonographic assessment of the foot in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Delle Sedie A, Riente L, Filippucci E, Scirè CA, Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Gutierrez M, Valesini G, Montecucco C, Grassi W, Bombardieri S. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2011 ;29:217-22.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XXXI. Sonographic assessment of the foot in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Riente L, Delle Sedie A, Scirè CA, Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Iagnocco A et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2011 ;29:1-5
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXX. Sonographic assessment of the painful knee. Meenagh G, Filippucci E, Delle Sedie A, Iagnocco A, Scirè CA, Riente L et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2010 ;28:803-5
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXIX. Sonographic assessment of the knee in patients with osteoarthritis. Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Riente L, Filippucci E, Delle Sedie A, Scirè CA et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2010;28:643-6
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologistXXVIII. Impact of sonographic knee joint involvement inrecent-onset inflammatory polyarthritis. Scirè CA, Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Riente L, Filippucci E, Delle Sedie A et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2010 ;28:449-53.
Ultrasound Imaging for the Rheumatologist. XXVII. Sonographic assessment of the knee in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Riente L, Delle Sedie A, Filippucci E, Scirè CA, Iagnocco A, Gutierrez M et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2010 ;28:300-3
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XXV. Sonographic assessment of the knee in patients with gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease. Filippucci E, Scirè CA, Delle Sedie A, Iagnocco A, Riente L, Meenagh G et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2010 ;28:2-5
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XXIV. Sonographic evaluation of wrist and hand joint and tendon involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus. Delle Sedie A, Riente L, Scirè CA, Iagnocco A, Filippucci E, Meenagh G et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2009 ;27:897-901
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XXIII. Sonographic evaluation of hand joint involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome. Riente L, Scirè CA, Delle Sedie A, Baldini C, Filippucci E, Meenagh G et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2009 ;27:747-50
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XXII. Achilles tendon involvement in spondyloarthritis. A multi-centre study using high frequency volumetric probe. Iagnocco A, Riente L, Delle Sedie A, Filippucci E, Salaffi F, Meenagh G et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2009 ;27:547-51.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XXI. Role of ultrasound imaging in early arthritis. Scirè CA, Meenagh G, Filippucci E, Riente L, Delle Sedie A, Salaffi F et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2009 ;27:391-4
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XX. Sonographic assessment of hand and wrist joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison between two- and three-dimensional ultrasonography. Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Delle Sedie A, Salaffi F, Riente L, Iagnocco A et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2009 ; 27:197-200
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XIX. Imaging modalities in rheumatoid arthritis. Meenagh G, Filippucci E, Delle Sedie A, Riente L, Iagnocco A, Scirè CA et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2009;27:3-6
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XVIII. Ultrasound measurements. Meenagh G, Filippucci E, Delle Sedie A, Riente L, Iagnocco A, Epis O et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2009;26:982-5.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XVII. Role of colour Doppler and power Doppler. Iagnocco A, Epis O, Delle Sedie A, Meenagh G, Filippucci E, Riente L et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2008 ;26:759-62
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XVI. Ultrasound-guided procedures. Epis O, Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Riente L, Delle Sedie A, Filippucci E et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2008 ;26:515-8
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XV. Ultrasound imaging in vasculitis. Delle Sedie A, Riente L, Filippucci E, Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Epis O et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2008 ;26:391-4
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XIV. Ultrasound imaging in connective tissue diseases. Riente L, Delle Sedie A, Filippucci E, Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Epis O et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2008 ;26:230-3
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XIII. New trends. Three-dimensional ultrasonography. Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Epis O, Iagnocco A, Riente L, Delle Sedie A et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2008 ;26:1-4
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XII. Ultrasound imaging in sports medicine. Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Delle Sedie A, Riente L, Iagnocco A, Bombardieri S et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2007 ;25:806-9
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XI. Ultrasound imaging in regional pain syndromes. Iagnocco A, Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Riente L, Delle Sedie A, Bombardieri S et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2007 ;25:672-5
Inter-observer agreement of standard joint counts in early rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison with grey scale ultrasonography--a preliminary study. Salaffi F, Filippucci E, Carotti M, Naredo E, Meenagh G, Ciapetti A et al. Rheumatology 2008 ;47:54-8
Etanercept in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: clinical follow-up over one year by ultrasonography. Iagnocco A, Perella C, Naredo E, Meenagh G, Ceccarelli F, Tripodo E et al. Rheumatol 2007 19; 304-5
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist X. Ultrasound imaging in crystal-related arthropathies. Della Sede A, Riente L, Iagnocco A, Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Valesini G et al.
Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2007;25:513-7.
Three-dimensional power Doppler sonography in short-term therapy monitoring of rheumatoid synovitis. Meenagh G, Filippucci E, Abbattista T, Busilacchi P, Grassi W. Rheumatology 2007 ;46:1736
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist IX. Ultrasound imaging in spondyloarthritis. Riente L, Delle Sedie A, Filippucci E, Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Grassi W et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2007 ;25:349-53
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist VIII. Ultrasound imaging in osteoarthritis Meenagh G, Filippucci E, Iagnocco A, Delle Sedie A, Riente L, Bombardieri S et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2007;25:172-75.
Level of agreement between rheumatologists on US image acquisition using a 3D volumetric probe. Filippucci E, Meenagh G, De Agustin JJ, De Miguel E, Iagnocco A, Mayordomo L et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2007;25:116.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist VII. Ultrasound imaging in rheumatoid arthritis. Filippucci E, Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Riente L, Delle Sedie A, Bombardieri S et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2007;25:5-10.
E-learning in ultrasonography: a web based approach.
Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Iagnocco A, Ciapetti A, Taggart, Grassi W. Ann Rheum Dis. 2007 Feb 28; [Epub ahead of print]
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. VI. Ultrasonography of the elbow, sacroiliac, parasternal, and temporomandibular joints.
Della Sede A, Riente L, Iagnocco A, Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Valesini G et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006 Nov-Dec;24(6):617-21
"Crystal Clear"-Sonographic Assessment of Gout and Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease. Grassi W, Meenagh G, Pascual E, Filippucci E Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2006; 36: 197-202
Ultrasonography in rheumatology: developing its potential in clinical practice and research Meenagh G, Filippucci E, Kane D, Taggart A, Grassi W. Rheumatology 2006
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. IV. Ultrasonography of the knee. Meenagh G, Iagnocco A, Filippucci E, Riente L, Della Sede A, Bombardieri S et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006;24: 357-60
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. III. Ultrasonography of the hip. Iagnocco A, Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Della Sede A, Riente, Bombardieri S et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006;24: 229-32
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with anxiety and depression in fibromyalgia. Armstrong DJ, Meenagh GK, Bickle I, Lee AS, Curran ES, Finch MB Clin Rheumatol. 2006 Jul 19
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. II. Ultrasonography of the hand and wrist. Filippucci E, Iagnocco A, Meenagh G, Riente L, Della Sede A, Bombardieri S et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006;24:118-22
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. I. Ultrasonography of the shoulder. Iagnocco A, Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Della Sede A, Riente, Bombardieri S et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006;24:6-11.
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. Iagnocco A, Filippucci E, Meenagh G, Della Sede A, Riente L, Bombardieri S et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006;24:1-5.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound training in rheumatology: The Belfast experience. Taggart A, Filippucci E, Wright G, Bell A, Cairns A, Meenagh G et al. Rheumatology 2006; 45:102-5
Lack of support for the presence of an osteoarthritis susceptibility locus on chromosome 6p. Meenagh GK, McGibbon D, Nixon J, Wright GD, Doherty M, Hughes A. Arthr Rheum 2005; 52: 2040-43
The clinical effect of dietary supplementation with omega 3 fish oils with or without copper in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Duffy EM, Meenagh GK, McMillan SA, Strain SJ, Hannigan BM, Bell AL. J Rheumatol 2004; 8: 1551-6
A randomised controlled trial of intra-articular corticosteroid injection of the carpo-metacarpal joint of the thumb in osteoarthritis. Meenagh G, Patton J, Kynes C, Wright GD. Ann Rheum Dis 2004; 63: 1260-3
Can diagnostic triage by general practitioners or rheumatology nurses improve the positive predictive value of referrals to early arthritis clinics? Gormley GJ, Steele WK, Gilliland A, Leggett P, Wright GD, Bell AL, Matthews C, Meenagh G, Wylie E, Mulligan R, Stevenson M, O’Reilly M, Taggart AJ. Rheumatology 2003; 31: 1093
Anti-nucleosome antibodies: utility in the diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Cairns AP, McMillan SA, Crockard AD, Meenagh GK, Duffy EM, Armstrong DA, Bell AL. Ann Rheum Dis 2003; 62: 272-3
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura associated with cerebral SLE. McHenry M, Meenagh G, Wright GD. Ulster Medical Journal 2003; 72: 52-4
Can triage improve the appropriateness of referrals to early arthritis clinics? Gormley G, Steele K, Gilliland D, Leggett P, Mulligan R, Wylie E, Matthews C, Meenagh G, Taggart A, Bell A, Wright G, Stevenson M, McKane R, O’Reilly D. IJMedSci 2002; 170 Supplement 3: 22
Unusual and memorable: An interesting case of herpes zoster in rheumatoid arthritis. Campalani E, Meenagh GK, Finch MB. Ann Rheum Dis 2002; 61: 102
Debilitating knee pain in a patient with ‘normal’ knee radiographs Meenagh GK, Wright GD Ann Rheum Dis 2001; 60: 650-2
Can rheumatologists agree on a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis in an early synovitis clinic? Gormley G, Steele K, Gilliland D, Stevenson M, Matthews C, Meenagh G, Bell A, Taggart A, McKane R, O’Reilly D. Ann Rheum Dis 2001; 60: 638-9
Unusual and memorable: Atypical Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy Meenagh GK, McHenry M, Wright GD Ann Rheum Dis 2001; 60: 313
Published Texts
Musculoskeletal Sonography : Technique, Anatomy, Semeiotics and Pathological Findings in Rheumatic Diseases. Martino, Silvestri, Grassi, Garlaschi. (Co Authors Falchi, Filippucci, Martinoli, Meenagh, Muda) Springer- Verlag Italia 2007. ISBN -10 88-470-0518-3
