title: Aseptic HLA B27-positive spondylodiscitis: decreased 18F-FDG uptake after etanercept treatment.
abstract: We observed a 69-year old man suffering from HLA B27 ankylosing spondylitis with persistent night back pain. 18F-FDG-PET/CT showed an increased metabolism at the level of the spinal space of L2-L3, L3-L4 with increased uptake compatible with spondylodiscitis. He started therapy with etanercept 50 mg/week. After six months of treatment repeated testing showed no uptake of the discs and vertebral bodies.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, S. Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Firenze. maurizio.benucci@uslcentro.toscana.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benucci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Damiani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Infantino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li Gobbi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015299:Discitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000068800:Etanercept / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D000068800:Etanercept