Optical coherence tomography changes in ankylosing spondylitis patients on long-term adalimumab treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Long-term ocular effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to examine the long-term effects of adalimumab use on neural tissue of the anterior visual pathways using optical coherence tomography in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. METHODS: This was a single-center, open-label, cross-sectional study conducted at the Giresun University Faculty of Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, between November 2019 and August 2020. This study included 26 ankylosing spondylitis patients receiving adalimumab for at least 1 year and 21 healthy controls. All subjects underwent a full ophthalmological examination and optical coherence tomography examination with the following measurements: peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, peripapillary retinal thickness, peripapillary choroidal thickness, ganglion cell complex thickness, and the optic head properties. RESULTS: Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and retinal thickness measurements were lower in the adalimumab group. In addition, ganglion cell complex thickness was significantly lower and the cup-to-disc ratio was significantly higher in the adalimumab group (p<0.05). However, the two groups did not differ in terms of peripapillary choroidal thickness and disc area (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors have some favorable effects on the ocular involvement of patients with ankylosing spondylitis, they may also have paradoxical detrimental effects as evidenced by structural changes observed by optical coherence tomography. Future studies with better design, probably including a large number of patients with a range of rheumatological diseases and tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, are warranted.

Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in South America. Burden of disease and differential features with respect to ankylosing spondylitis at time of diagnosis. A comprehensive analysis with a focus on images.

BACKGROUND: Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) data from South America are scarce, especially regarding image features. Objective To estimate the frequency of nr-axSpA and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a cohort of Argentinian patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) and to analyze the difference between both, with focus on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions, at diagnosis. METHODS: Patients with LBP and a diagnosis of axSpA who participated in a reuma-check program were included. All patients with a suspicion of SpA were evaluated using blood analytics, HLA-B27, and images (MRI). Sociodemographic data, SpA features, diagnostic dela,y and clinimetrics were assessed by an operator who was blinded to the patient's test results. On MRI, the presence of SpA lesions was assessed and a concordance exercise was carried out between rheumatologists and radiologist. RESULT: Of 198 LBP patients, 97 had axSpA, 54% of whom were nr-axSpA. A positive MRI was found in 50%. No difference in terms of disease activity, functional impact, laboratory or treatments between nr-axSpA and AS were found. Higher frequencies of male sex and chronic lesions on sacroiliac MRI were found in AS patients. In the logistic regression, an independent association with AS diagnosis was found: male (odds ratio [OR] 4.8), MRI fat replacement (OR 4.6), MRI sclerosis (OR 7.6), and diagnostic delay of more than 2 years (OR 10). The concordance between rheumatologists and radiologists was considered good to very good (κ 0.7-0.8). CONCLUSION: The frequency of nr-axSpA was 54%. We found a higher frequency of being male, more SpA features, and a longer diagnostic delay in patients with AS. Patients with AS had more structural lesions, with a good concordance between rheumatologist and radiologist.

Advanced ankylosing spondylitis: a multisite, multimodality densitometric analysis for investigation of bone loss in the axial and appendicular skeleton.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate if there is a bias in bone mineral density measurements among major densitometric techniques across multiple skeletal sites. METHODS: In 25 advanced ankylosing spondylitis patients, bone mineral density measurements were acquired in the lumbar spine, the hip, and the forearm. RESULTS: In total, 60% of patients had a bone mineral density Z-score of -2 or less at one or more skeletal sites. Dedicated loss of cortical bone was identified at the distal forearm (60% of patients). Differences in bone mineral density measurements across all densitometric techniques were highly significant (p≤0.001). Bone loss was more striking in spinal trabecular bone by three-dimensional quantitative computed tomography [Z-score -2.1] versus dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [Z-score 0]. A trabecular bone loss quantified by quantitative computed tomography was about twice as much as a cortical bone loss by single-energy X-ray absorptiometry (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Low bone mineral density is prevalent in advanced ankylosing spondylitis patients, predominating in the spine. Bone mineral density measurements have systematic differences when compared to each other. Knowledge of these offsets is useful for improved diagnosis of regional bone loss that allows for targeted treatment of osteoporosis. Three-dimensional quantitative computed tomography is more suitable for evaluating spinal osteoporosis in advanced ankylosing spondylitis than dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, which rather underestimates bone loss.

Risk factors for radiological hip involvement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to explore the potential risk factors for radiological hip joint involvement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: This cross-sectional convey collected the clinical data, laboratory indicators, and radiographic data of patients with AS. Radiographic hip joint involvement was defined as a Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Hip Index (BASRI-hip) score ≥2. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the potential risk factors for radiological hip involvement in patients with AS. RESULTS: Based on BASRI-hip score, all enrolled 386 patients with AS were classified as patients involving with radiological hip joint involvement (BASRI-hip ≥2; n=203) and those without it (BASRI-hip ≤1; n=183). Mean age of enrolled patients with AS were 36.7±11.9 years, and 320 (82.9%) patients were male. Mean course of disease was 10.7±8.3 years, and 349 (90.4%) patients were with a positive HLAB27. Multivariate analyses indicated that Juvenile onset (onset age ≤16 years) (odds ratio [OR]=4.159, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.779-9.721, p<0.001), body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m2 (OR=1.986, 95%CI 1.187-3.323, p=0.009), continuous nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use (OR=0.351, 95%CI 0.155-0.794, p=0.012), and bone mass below the expected range for age (Z score ≤-2) (OR=2.791, 95%CI 1.456-5.352, p=0.002) were independently associated with radiological hip joint involvement in patients with AS. CONCLUSIONS: The potential risk factors for radiological hip joint involvement were juvenile onset, lower BMI, and bone mass below the expected range for age. Furthermore, continuous NSAID use was the protective factor for radiological hip joint involvement in these population.

Risk factors for radiological hip involvement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to explore the potential risk factors for radiological hip joint involvement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: This cross-sectional convey collected the clinical data, laboratory indicators, and radiographic data of patients with AS. Radiographic hip joint involvement was defined as a Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Hip Index (BASRI-hip) score ≥2. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the potential risk factors for radiological hip involvement in patients with AS. RESULTS: Based on BASRI-hip score, all enrolled 386 patients with AS were classified as patients involving with radiological hip joint involvement (BASRI-hip ≥2; n=203) and those without it (BASRI-hip ≤1; n=183). Mean age of enrolled patients with AS were 36.7±11.9 years, and 320 (82.9%) patients were male. Mean course of disease was 10.7±8.3 years, and 349 (90.4%) patients were with a positive HLAB27. Multivariate analyses indicated that Juvenile onset (onset age ≤16 years) (odds ratio [OR]=4.159, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.779-9.721, p<0.001), body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m2 (OR=1.986, 95%CI 1.187-3.323, p=0.009), continuous nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use (OR=0.351, 95%CI 0.155-0.794, p=0.012), and bone mass below the expected range for age (Z score ≤-2) (OR=2.791, 95%CI 1.456-5.352, p=0.002) were independently associated with radiological hip joint involvement in patients with AS. CONCLUSIONS: The potential risk factors for radiological hip joint involvement were juvenile onset, lower BMI, and bone mass below the expected range for age. Furthermore, continuous NSAID use was the protective factor for radiological hip joint involvement in these population.

Aortitis: Hallazgos radiológicos en relación a sus diversas etiologías / Aortitis: Radiological Findings in Relation to its Various Etiologies

Resumen La inflamación de la aorta (aortitis) es una patología poco frecuente, con etiología infecciosa (pseudoaneurisma micótico, sífilis) y no infecciosa (arteritis, aortitis idiopática, espondilitis anquilosante, entre otras) de difícil diagnóstico clínico y variable pronóstico. Por esa razón, la utilización de diversos métodos por imágenes, tales como la tomografía computada multidetector (TCMD), la tomografía computada por emisión de positrones (PET-TC), la resonancia magnética (RM) y ultrasonido (US) facilitan la identificación, seguimiento y tratamiento de esa entidad. El siguiente trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar una revisión y actualización bibliográfica acerca de la aortitis y sus diversas etiologías, ejemplificando con casos de nuestra institución.

Abstract Aortic inflammation (aortitis) is a rare pathology, with infectious (fungal pseudoaneurysm, syphilis) and noninfectious etiology (arteritis, idiopathic aortitis, ankylosing spondylitis, among others), it has a difficult clinical diagnosis and a variable prognosis. The use of various imaging methods such as multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and ultrasound (US) facilitate the identification, monitoring and treatment of this entity. The following paper aims to perform a literature review and update about aortitis and its various etiologies, exemplifying cases of our institution.

Ultrasound of entheses in ankylosing spondylitis patients: The importance of the calcaneal and quadriceps entheses for differentiating patients from healthy individuals.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the ultrasonographic findings of entheses in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with those of healthy control individuals and to assess the ability of ultrasound (US) to identify aspects related to the disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 50 patients with AS and 30 healthy controls was performed. Clinical assessment included the use of a visual analog scale for pain, assessment of swelling of the enthesis, global assessments for patients and physician, use of a disease activity index, mobility and dysfunctional indices, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and clinical enthesitis index. US was performed for the following entheses by two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists: brachial triceps, distal quadriceps, proximal and distal patellar tendons, calcaneal tendon, and plantar fascia; the total and subitems of the Madrid Sonographic Enthesitis Index were used for evaluations. RESULTS: Comparison between groups showed a statistically significant difference with worse scores in AS patients, with bone erosion of the calcaneal enthesis and bone erosion and thickening of the plantar fascia. The odds ratio for thickening of the plantar fascia in the AS group was 3.47, according to logistic regression analysis. The AS group also had worse scores regarding the presence of calcification in the quadriceps enthesis, with a fivefold increased risk. CONCLUSION: US analysis showed that only entheses of the foot and quadriceps were able to differentiate AS patients from healthy individuals.

Assessing bone impairment in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using the trabecular bone score (TBS) and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT).

OBJECTIVES: To compare bone quality using the trabecular bone score (TBS) and bone microarchitecture in the distal tibia using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and healthy controls (HC). METHODS: Areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and TBS (TBS iNsight software) were evaluated using DXA (Hologic, QDR 4500); while volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone microarchitecture were analyzed in the distal tibia using HR-pQCT (Scanco) in 73 male patients with AS and 52 age-matched HC. RESULTS: AS patients were a mean 41.6 ±â€¯7.9 years old and had a mean disease duration of 16.4 ±â€¯8.6 y, with a mean mSASSS 25.6 ±â€¯16.4. No difference was observed in lumbar spine aBMD in AS patients and HC (p = 0.112), but total hip BMD (p = 0.011) and TBS (p < 0.001) were lower in AS patients. In the distal tibia, reduced trabecular volumetric density [Tb.vBMD (p < 0.006)] and structural alterations - trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), p = 0.044 and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), p = 0.039 - were observed in AS patients relative to controls. Further analysis comparing TBS < 1.310 and TBS ≥ 1.310 in AS patients revealed a higher mean body mass index [BMI] (p = 0.010), lower tibia cortical vBMD [Ct.vBMD] (p = 0.007), lower tibia cortical thickness [Ct.Th]: (p = 0.048) in the former group. On logistic regression analysis, BMI (OR = 1.27; 95%IC = 1.08-1.50, p = 0.005), (VF 4.65; 1.13-19.1, p = 0.033) and tibial Ct.vBMD (0.98; 0.97-1.00, p = 0.007) were associated with a lower TBS (<1.310). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that TBS and HR-pQCT imaging are important technologies evaluating bone impairment in AS patients. Moreover, in these patients vertebral fractures were associated with lower TBS.

Value of Color Doppler Ultrasound Assessment of Sacroiliac Joints in Patients with Inflammatory Low Back Pain.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) for the detection of sacroiliitis, in patients with inflammatory back pain (IBP). METHODS: Consecutive patients with IBP and suspected axial spondyloarthritis (SpA), but without a definitive diagnosis, were included. Consecutive patients with defined SpA and axial involvement were included as a control group. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CDUS of sacroiliac joints (SIJ) within the same week. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for the diagnosis of sacroiliitis by CDUS were calculated, using MRI as the gold standard. RESULTS: There were 198 SIJ evaluated in 99 patients (36 with previous SpA). There were 61 men (61.6%), with a mean age of 39.8 years (SD 11.3) and median disease duration of 24 months (IQR 12-84). At the patient level, CDUS had a sensitivity of 63% (95% CI 48.7-75.7%) and a specificity of 89% (95% CI 76-96%). The PPV was 87.2% (95% CI 72.6-95.7%) and the NPV was 66.7% (95% CI 53.3-78.3%). At joint level, CDUS had a sensitivity of 60% (95% CI 49-70%) and a specificity of 93% (95% CI 88-98%). The PPV was 83% (95% CI 78-95%) and the NPV was 43% (95% CI 33-56%). The sensitivity of CDUS for the diagnosis of axial SpA was 54% (95% CI 36.6-71.2%), specificity was 82% (95% CI 63.1-93.9%), PPV was 79% (95% CI 57.8-92.9%), and NPV was 59% (95% CI 42.1-74.4%). CONCLUSION: CDUS showed adequate diagnostic properties for detection of sacroiliitis and is a useful tool in patients with IBP.

Ultrasound of entheses in ankylosing spondylitis patients: The importance of the calcaneal and quadriceps entheses for differentiating patients from healthy individuals

OBJECTIVES: To compare the ultrasonographic findings of entheses in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with those of healthy control individuals and to assess the ability of ultrasound (US) to identify aspects related to the disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 50 patients with AS and 30 healthy controls was performed. Clinical assessment included the use of a visual analog scale for pain, assessment of swelling of the enthesis, global assessments for patients and physician, use of a disease activity index, mobility and dysfunctional indices, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and clinical enthesitis index. US was performed for the following entheses by two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists: brachial triceps, distal quadriceps, proximal and distal patellar tendons, calcaneal tendon, and plantar fascia; the total and subitems of the Madrid Sonographic Enthesitis Index were used for evaluations. RESULTS: Comparison between groups showed a statistically significant difference with worse scores in AS patients, with bone erosion of the calcaneal enthesis and bone erosion and thickening of the plantar fascia. The odds ratio for thickening of the plantar fascia in the AS group was 3.47, according to logistic regression analysis. The AS group also had worse scores regarding the presence of calcification in the quadriceps enthesis, with a fivefold increased risk. CONCLUSION: US analysis showed that only entheses of the foot and quadriceps were able to differentiate AS patients from healthy individuals.

Spine surgery in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

INTRODUCTION: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an idiopathic seronegative spondyloartropathy that involves mainly the axial skeleton and the sacroiliac joints. AS promotes biomechanical changes in the spine that predispose to fractures, spinal deformity and spondylodiscitis. The aim of this article is to report the clinical and laboratorial characteristics of patients with AS who underwent spinal surgery at our Institution. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical charts of patients who had AS and underwent spinal interventions. RESULTS: Nine patients were found and eight were included in the present study. There were three men and six women and the patients' mean age was 57 years old. All patients had pain at the involved spinal level and one patient had tetraparesis due to cervical myelopathy. Acute-phase proteins were positive in six patients (75%), and HLA-B27 was found in two patients (25%). Four patients had the radiological diagnosis of spondylodiscitis (50%) and underwent a spinal disc biopsy. They were all characterized as having aseptic spondylodiscitis. Three patients were free of pain with analgesics in their last follow-up and one patient had only partial solution of his pain. Three additional patients had spinal fractures surgically treated (37.5%) and one patient was operated because of a cervical kyphotic deformity (12.5%). There were no deaths or surgical complications in this series. CONCLUSIONS: the majority of our clinical and laboratories findings were discrepant with the medical literature. These differences may be secondary to regional characteristics or by the fact that our population included only those patients who underwent spinal surgery.

Spine surgery in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an idiopathic seronegative spondyloartropathy that involves mainly the axial skeleton and the sacroiliac joints. AS promotes biomechanical changes in the spine that predispose to fractures, spinal deformity and spondylodiscitis. The aim of this article is to report the clinical and laboratorial characteristics of patients with AS who underwent spinal surgery at our Institution. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical charts of patients who had AS and underwent spinal interventions. RESULTS: Nine patients were found and eight were included in the present study. There were three men and six women and the patients' mean age was 57 years old. All patients had pain at the involved spinal level and one patient had tetraparesis due to cervical myelopathy. Acute-phase proteins were positive in six patients (75%), and HLA-B27 was found in two patients (25%). Four patients had the radiological diagnosis of spondylodiscitis (50%) and underwent a spinal disc biopsy. They were all characterized as having aseptic spondylodiscitis. Three patients were free of pain with analgesics in their last follow-up and one patient had only partial solution of his pain. Three additional patients had spinal fractures surgically treated (37.5%) and one patient was operated because of a cervical kyphotic deformity (12.5%). There were no deaths or surgical complications in this series. CONCLUSIONS: the majority of our clinical and laboratories findings were discrepant with the medical literature. These differences may be secondary to regional characteristics or by the fact that our population included only those patients who underwent spinal surgery.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: A espondilite anquilosante (EA) é uma espondiloartropatia soronegativa, caracterizada principalmente pelo envolvimento do esqueleto axial e das articulações sacroilíacas. A EA promove alterações biomecânicas que predispõem a coluna a fraturas, deformidades e à espondilodiscite. O objetivo do presente estudo é reportar as características clínicas e laboratoriais dos pacientes com EA que foram submetidos a procedimentos cirúrgicos na coluna vertebral em nossa instituição. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo com revisão de dados médicos dos pacientes com EA que foram submetidos a intervenções na coluna vertebral. RESULTADOS: Nove pacientes foram encontrados e oito incluídos no presente estudo. Três pacientes eram homens e seis mulheres, com média de 57 anos de idade. Todos os pacientes apresentavam dor no segmento da coluna acometido pela doença e um paciente tinha tetraparesia por mielopatia cervical. Seis pacientes (75%) apresentaram proteínas de fase aguda com níveis séricos elevados e dois eram HLA-B27 positivos. Em quatro pacientes houve o diagnóstico radiológico presumido de espondilodiscite e estes foram submetidos à biópsia de disco (três por via percutânea e um com biópsia aberta) - em nenhum deles houve identificação de agente infeccioso. Desses, três pacientes tiveram melhora total da dor durante o seguimento, enquanto um deles mantinha dores leves. Houve três casos de fraturas tratadas cirurgicamente (37,5%) e um caso de deformidade cervical cifótica grave (12,5%). Não houve mortes ou complicações relacionadas às cirurgias nessa série. CONCLUSÕES: A maioria dos dados clínicos e laboratoriais de nosso estudo divergiu da literatura. Essas diferenças podem ser atribuídas às características regionais de nossa população ou pelo fato de incluirmos apenas pacientes que foram submetidos à intervenção cirúrgica.

Fat Mass Lowers the Response to Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Blockers in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: Our main objective was to assess the relationship between body composition (BC) and response to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) blocker treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Our secondary objective was to evaluate the change of BC after treatment, accounting for sex and age. METHODS: All included patients fulfilled the modified New York criteria for AS and were naive to TNF-α blocker. They were followed for at least 6 months after the start of etanercept or adalimumab. The Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score containing C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) were reported. BC was assessed by whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Body fat percentage (BF%), fat mass index (FMI), and fat free mass index (FFMI) were reported as absolute values and as percentiles. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were included (61% men). The median followup was 14.3 months (interquartile range 8.4-19.4). After multivariate regression analysis, more fat at baseline (BF%, FMI, or FMI percentile) was significantly related with a lower chance of achieving a clinically important improvement of the ASDAS-CRP or BASDAI after treatment. The body composition did not change significantly after treatment, but there was a trend toward muscle recovery in men (FFMI change from 34.0th to 37.4th percentile). CONCLUSION: Higher body fat content at baseline was independently associated with a worse response to treatment with TNF-α blockers, measured by ASDAS-CRP and BASDAI change, and might contribute to the lower response rates in female patients. Also, there is a trend toward muscle mass recovery in male patients after treatment.

Association between bone turnover markers, clinical variables, spinal syndesmophytes and bone mineral density in Mexican patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare bone turnover marker (BTM) levels and bone mineral density (BMD) between patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and healthy controls (HC) and to evaluate, in AS, the association between BTM levels and clinical variables, spinal syndesmophytes, and BMD using multivariate analysis. METHOD: Seventy-eight AS patients were compared with 58 HC matched by gender. Spinal syndesmophytes in AS and other characteristics were assessed. C-terminal telopeptide fragments of type I collagen (CTX), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC) serum levels, and BMD of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and forearm were evaluated. RESULTS: AS males and females had lower BAP levels than their respective HC (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001). AS patients with bridging syndesmophytes had higher OC levels than AS patients either with non-bridging syndesmophytes (p = 0.001) or without spinal syndesmophytes (p < 0.001). OC and CTX levels correlated significantly with the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). In the multivariate linear regression adjusted by age, gender, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), BMD in the lumbar spine, and C-reactive protein (CRP), we observed an association between BAP levels and anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) use (p = 0.05) whereas OC levels were associated with mSASSS (p < 0.001) and anti-TNF use (p = 0.05), and CTX levels were exclusively associated with mSASSS (p = 0.03). In the logistic regression analysis, only OC levels were associated with the presence of syndesmophytes in AS [odds ratio (OR) 2.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-5.75]. CONCLUSIONS: We observed an increase in OC levels in AS patients with syndesmophytes. BTM levels were associated with the severity of spinal damage. Future longitudinal studies should evaluate whether these BTMs should be included as tools to determine the prognosis and progression of spinal damage.

Espondiloartritis anquilosante: revisión de hallazgos imagenológicos en la columna / Ankylosing spondyloarthritis: review of spinal imaging findings

Abstract: Introduction. Ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS) is the most common and representative of seronegative spondyloarthropathy. It is characterised by chronic inflammation of the axial skeleton, leading to chronic back pain and progressive stiffness. It typically occurs in young patients, with symptoms often appearing with peak onset between 20 and 30 years of age, and is strongly associated with human leukocyte antigen B-27 (HLA B-27). Current imaging techniques are central in the management of these patients. The recognition of its classic imaging findings and its complications is essential for radiologists. Objectives. To present a pictorial review of the spinal imaging findings in patients with AS. Methods and materials. An analysis will be made of the spinal imaging findings in conventional radiography, CT and MRI in multiple patients from our medical centre. The most representative findings, complications, differential diagnoses, and some radiological key points will be shown.

Resumen: Introducción. La espondilitis anquilosante (EA) es la artropatía seronegativa más común y representativa. Se caracteriza por inflamación crónica del esqueleto axial, dolor referido a la columna vertebral de tipo inflamatorio y rigidez progresiva. Típicamente se manifiesta en pacientes jóvenes que inician su sintomatología entre los 20-30 años de edad y está ligada al antígeno leucocitario humano B-27 (HLA B-27). Las imágenes son fundamentales en el manejo de estos pacientes. Es deber del radiólogo reconocer los hallazgos imagenológicos presentes. Objetivos. Realizar una revisión pictográfica de hallazgos imagenológicos presentes en la columna vertebral de pacientes portadores de EA. Material y método. Análisis de las manifestaciones imagenológicas de columna más representativas de la EA en pacientes de nuestro centro en radiografía convencional, TC y RM, junto con posibles complicaciones y diagnósticos diferenciales.

[Frequency of HLA alleles class I and II in a cohort of northwestern Colombian patients with spondyloarthritis]. / Frecuencia de alelos HLA de clase I y II en una cohorte de pacientes con espondiloartritis provenientes del noroccidente colombiano.

INTRODUCTION: Spondyloarthritis is a chronic rheumatic disease that affect the axial skeleton and peripheral joints, along with several extra-articular manifestations. The association with HLA-B27 remains one of the strongest known links between these entities and the major histocompatibility complex. However, the global distribution of HLA-B27 varies considerably and furthermore, associations with non-HLA-B27 genes have been described. OBJECTIVE: The frequency of HLA class I and II was determined in a population of patients with spondyloarthritis with respect to detection in the clinical setting and by radiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, retrospective and prospective study was conducted in 56 patients from northwestern Colombia. Each was diagnosed with spondyloarthritis between 2005 and 2008. In each case, alleles were identified for the loci HLA class I and II (HLA-B; HLADQB1 and HLADRB). The frequency of these alleles in the axial, peripheral, extraarticular and radiological manifestations. RESULTS: The frequency of HLA-B27 was 50% overall, and it was the most frequent allele. The two other alleles were HLA.DRB4*01 at 35.7% and HLA-DQB1*0501 at 28.6%, as detected in each of the clinical and radiological manifestations. A high frequency of HLA-B27 and HLA-DRB4*01 (64.3%) was noted in patients with dactylitis. CONCLUSION: The alleles HLA-B27, HLA-DRB4*01 and HLA-DQB1*0501 were common in the different subtypes of spondyloarthritis and were frequent in the specific clinical axial, peripheral and extraarticular clinical manifestations, as well as radiological sacroiliitis.

Gonadal function in male patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess reproductive function in male ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients in comparison to healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty AS patients were compared to 24 healthy male subjects with regard to demographic data, urological examination, testicular ultrasound (US), semen analysis, anti-sperm antibodies, and hormone profile. Exclusion criteria were present use of sulfasalazine or methotrexate, and ever use of biological/cytotoxic agents. Disease activity of AS was evaluated by clinical and laboratory assessments. RESULTS: Demographic data were similar in AS and controls (p = 0.175). Varicocele was found significantly more frequently in AS patients than in controls (40% vs. 8%, p = 0.027). Semen analysis revealed no significant differences in sperm quality between AS patients and controls (p > 0.05). By contrast, the median of normal sperm forms was significantly lower in AS patients with vs. those without varicocele [13.5 (range 2-27) vs. 22 (range 10-32.5)%, p = 0.049] whereas no difference in sperm morphology was observed comparing AS patients and controls without varicocele (p = 0.670). Comparison of AS patients with and without varicocele showed that anti-sperm antibodies, hormones, inflammatory markers, and disease activity scores did not contribute to the impaired sperm morphology observed in AS patients with varicocele. CONCLUSIONS: An increased frequency of varicocele was found in AS patients associated with sperm abnormalities but independent of therapy, anti-sperm antibodies, hormonal alterations, or disease parameters. Investigation for varicocele should be routine in AS patients with fertility problems.

Pulmonary abnormalities in ankylosing spondylitis: inspiratory and expiratory high-resolution CT findings in 17 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate pulmonary manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis on inspiratory and expiratory high resolution CT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 17 patients ranging from 40 to 62 years in age. Fifteen patients were male, and 8 were smokers. All patients underwent chest radiography and high-resolution CT. High-resolution CT was obtained using 1 or 2 mm collimation scans at 10-mm intervals at the end of maximal inspiration and at 3 cm intervals at the end of maximal expiration. RESULTS: Pulmonary abnormalities were evident on chest radiography in 2 patients and on CT in 15 patients. The abnormalities on CT included evidence of airway disease in 14 (82%), interstitial abnormalities in 11 (65%), and emphysema in 6 (35%) patients. Airway abnormalities included bronchial wall thickening in 7 (41%), mosaic perfusion in 3 (18%), centrilobular nodules in 3, bronchiolectasis in 2, and air trapping on expiratory CT in 7 (41%) patients. Interstitial abnormalities included parenchymal bands in 7 (41%), intralobular linear opacities (n = 2), and 1 patient each with irregular thickening of interlobular septa, subpleural lines, and honeycombing. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with ankylosing spondylitis have airway and interstitial abnormalities evident on high-resolution CT. These abnormalities are usually mild and therefore seldom evident on the chest radiograph.