The prevalence of vertebral fractures in spondyloarthritis: relation to disease characteristics, bone mineral density, syndesmophytes and history of back pain and trauma.
BACKGROUND
An increased risk of vertebral fracture (VF) is one of the extra-articular manifestations of spondyloarthropathy (SpA). The prevalence of moderate to severe VFs visualized by radiography (Rx) in patients with SpA in daily practice is unknown until imaging of the full spine is available, as most VFs do not present with clinical signs and symptoms of an acute fracture.


METHODS
We evaluated the prevalence of VFs (>25% loss in height) on available Rx and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) images in 390 consecutive patients with SpA in daily practice. We assessed their association with disease characteristics, bone mineral density, the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score, and history of trauma.


RESULTS
Forty-six patients (11.8%) had Rx VF (56.4% men, 93.5% in the thoracic spine), and 44.5% had multiple VFs. Compared with patients without VF, patients with VF were older (52.2 vs. 47.3 years, p < 0.01; range 25-84 years), had lower femoral neck T-scores (-1.1 vs. -0.7; p < 0.05), and had a marginally higher modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (11.7 vs. 7.0; p = 0.06). Among patients with VFs, 15.2% had a history of trauma with acute back pain (p < 0.001 vs. no VF). The reliability of DXA for diagnosing radiographic VFs was high (κ 0.90).


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate to severe VFs are found in more than 10% of patients with SpA before the age of 40 years in 5% of women and 9% in men. Most VFs are located in the thoracic region, are related to low femoral neck bone mineral density and to stiffening of the spine, and are only rarely related to trauma history. DXA is a useful alternative for diagnosing VFs.
Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, and Transnationale Universiteit Limburg, Diepenbeek, Belgium, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium. piet.geusens@scarlet.be.|Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands. piet.geusens@scarlet.be.|ReumaClinic, Genk, Bretheistraat 149, 3600, Genk, Belgium. piet.geusens@scarlet.be.
Piet
P
Geusens
Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, and Transnationale Universiteit Limburg, Diepenbeek, Belgium, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium. liesbeth.dewinter@uhasselt.be.
Liesbeth
L
De Winter
Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, and Transnationale Universiteit Limburg, Diepenbeek, Belgium, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium. dana.quaden@uhasselt.be.
Dana
D
Quaden
ReumaClinic, Genk, Bretheistraat 149, 3600, Genk, Belgium. johanvanhoof@skynet.be.
Johan
J
Vanhoof
ReumaClinic, Genk, Bretheistraat 149, 3600, Genk, Belgium. d.vosse@mumc.nl.
Debby
D
Vosse
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands. j@vdbergh.org.|Department of Internal Medicine, VieCuri Medical Centre, P.O. Box 1926, 5900 BX, Venlo, The Netherlands. j@vdbergh.org.|Department of Internal Medicine, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands. j@vdbergh.org.
Joop
J
van den Bergh
Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, and Transnationale Universiteit Limburg, Diepenbeek, Belgium, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium. veerle.somers@uhasselt.be.
Veerle
V
Somers
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D025241:Spondylarthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult