Ankylosing spondylitis: correlations between clinical and MRI indices of sacroiliitis activity

Clin Radiol. 2015 Jan;70(1):62-6. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2014.09.015. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

Abstract

Aim: To analyse the correlations between clinical and MRI sacroiliitis activity indices in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Materials and methods: Sixteen normal volunteers and 52 patients were enrolled. The clinical AS activity indices included the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The MRI sacroiliitis activity indices included apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of bone and the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) score.

Results: The mean SPARCC score of the control group was 0 and of the AS group was 9.9 ± 9.1 (range 0-36). The mean ADC value of the AS group was statistically significantly higher than that of the control group (49.7 ± 20.2 × 10(-5)mm(2)/s versus 38.9 ± 5.3 × 10(-5)mm(2)/s, p < 0.05). The BASDAI score showed a statistically significant correlation with the SPARCC score (r = 0.685, p < 0.05) and with ADC values (r = 0.329, p < 0.05). ADC values correlated with the SPARCC score (r = 0.390, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: ADC values and the SPARCC index may be useful activity indices in AS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Sedimentation
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sacroiliitis / diagnosis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Spondylitis, Ankylosing / diagnosis*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • C-Reactive Protein