[The role of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnostics of axial spondyloarthritis]. / Vyuzitie MRI vysetrenia pri diagnostike axiálnej spondylartritídy.

Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorder that primary affects axial skeleton. It comprises wide spectrum of patients with immune mediated spine inflammation, from early, so called non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis to clinically evident ankylosing spondylitis. Conventional radiography is still the cornerstone of diagnosis, evaluation and classification of SpA. However, it has limitations in early disease, because it can only depict the consequences of inflammation for its inability to visualize soft tissue abnormalities within bone marrow. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to conventional radiography in early disease through its ability to visualize active inflammatory changes in sacroiliac joints when the pelvic radiographs are normal or equivocal. MRI of sacroiliac joints is also included to the Assessment of Axial Spondyloarthritis (ASAS) classification criteria for axial SpA. For classification purposes positive definition of MRI sacroiliitis was proposed with the clear presence of subchondral bone marrow edema (osteitis), which does not cross anatomical borders and is usually present on more consecutive slides. The more intense the signal is on fluid sensitive MRI sequences; more likely it reflects active inflammation, because small focal bone marrow edema lesions may occur in patients with mechanical back pain. It may be associated with signs of structural damage such as erosions, which can enhance diagnostic utility of MRI in cases of not highly suggestive appearance of osteitis. Contrast-enhanced imaging is not useful for routine diagnostic evaluation. When MRI findings are not clear, an additional MRI of the spine can be performed, especially of the area with the most pronounced complaints. Evidence of bone marrow edema in three or more vertebral edges is considered as highly suggestive of axial SpA, especially in patients of younger age, when degenerative changes are expected to play minor role for differential diagnosis.Key words: ankylosing spondylitis - axial spondyloarthritis - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - sacroiliitis.

Musculoskeletal ultrasonography in routine rheumatology practice: data from Central and Eastern European countries.

The main aim was to gain structured insight into the use of musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) in routine rheumatology practices in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. In a cross-sectional, observational, international, multicenter survey, a questionnaire was sent to investigational sites in CEE countries. Data on all subsequent routine MSUS examinations, site characteristics, MSUS equipment, and investigators were collected over 6 months or up to 100 examinations per center. A total of 95 physicians at 44 sites in 9 countries provided information on a total of 2810 MSUS examinations. The most frequent diagnoses were rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (34.8 and 14.9 % of cases, respectively). Mean number of joints examined was 6.8. MSUS was most frequently performed for diagnostic purposes (58 %), particularly in patients with undifferentiated arthritis, suspected soft tissue disorders, or osteoarthritis (73.0-85.3 %). In RA patients, 56.3 % of examinations were conducted to monitor disease activity. Nearly all investigations (99 %) had clinical implications, while the results of 78.6 % of examinations (51.6-99.0 %) were deemed useful for patient education. This first standardized multicountry survey performed in CEEs provided a structured documentation of the routine MSUS use in participating countries. The majority of MSUS examinations were performed for diagnostic purposes, whereas one-third was conducted to monitor disease activity in RA. A majority of examinations had an impact on clinical decision making and were also found to be useful for patient education.

Prolactin and growth hormone responses to hypoglycemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: Prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) are pituitary hormones with immunomodulating properties. Their upregulated secretion may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. We evaluated PRL and GH responses to secretion stimulus in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Insulin hypoglycemia (0.1 IU/kg) was induced in 15 women with RA, 18 men with AS, and healthy controls matched for age, sex and body mass index. Plasma concentrations of glucose, PRL, GH, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) were analyzed. RESULTS: RA patients had significantly lower area under the curve (AUC) of PRL (p = 0.049) compared to RA controls. During hypoglycemia double or higher increase of plasma PRL occurred in 5 RA (33%) patients and in 8 RA controls (57%). Using the General Linear Model procedure, no significant differences in PRL or GH responses were observed in patients with RA and AS. TNF-a was higher in patients with RA compared to RA controls (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in TNF-a concentrations between AS patients and AS controls. IL-6 was higher in RA patients compared to controls (p < 0.05) and in AS patients compared to controls (p < 0.01). Significant positive correlation was found between TNF-a levels and AUC of PRL in AS patients (r = 0.46, p = 0.047), but not in the 2 control groups or in RA patients. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate no upregulated PRL or GH responses to stimulation in premenopausal women with RA or men with AS.