Sacroiliitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: association of MR findings with disease activity.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether MR findings can correlate disease activity as measured by laboratory markers in ankylosing spondylitis. MR images in 19 patients with ankylosing spondylitis were retrospectively analyzed for cartilage abnormality, periarticular erosion, synovial enhancement, and bone marrow edema. Each MR finding was correlated with laboratory inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)) and the sum of ESR + CRP. Synovial enhancement showed a significant correlation with ESR (r=0.58; p<0.01) and increased activity at bone scan (r=0.74; p<0.005), whereas there was no significant correlation with CRP. A significant correlation was found between ESR + CRP and synovial enhancement (r=0.54; p<0.05). Synovial enhancement was more common when ESR + CRP was greater than 30 (p<0.05). In conclusion, synovial enhancement at MR imaging could correlate disease activity as measured by laboratory inflammatory markers in ankylosing spondylitis.
Department of Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. whjee@catholic.ac.kr
Won-Hee
WH
Jee
Thomas R
TR
McCauley
Sang-Heon
SH
Lee
Sung-Hoon
SH
Kim
Soo-Ah
SA
Im
Kee-Yong
KY
Ha
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein