[Follow up and prognostic value using magnetic resonance imaging in patients with spondyloarthritis treated with biologic agents]

Abstract

Early diagnosis and assessment of the response to treatment in patients suffering from spondyloarthritis have always been challenging due to the lack of imaging techniques able to demonstrate spinal and sacroiliac inflammation. The last 2 years have seen important advances in the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the study of spondyloarthritis. The possibility of quantification of inflammatory lesions using different scoring systems allows not only an early diagnosis, but the assessment of the response to several therapeutic agents, especially those known as «biological therapies». A number of randomized controlled trials of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents have been published showing regression of inflammatory lesions in MRI. This review discusses briefly the techniques and scoring systems used and all the evidences that exist about assessing treatment in spondyloarthritis.