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Justification for including MRI as a tool in the diagnosis of axial SpA

Nature Reviews Rheumatology volume 6, pages 670–672 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

New classification criteria for axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) have been developed and validated. MRI of the sacroiliac joints is an important feature in these criteria. This is rightfully so, as MRI can identify active lesions in the subchondral bone marrow that are thought to be related to the underlying pathophysiological process at the cartilage–bone junction. Follow-up studies using various imaging techniques, including MRI, in unselected patients with undiagnosed back pain of short symptom duration will provide more information on the differential diagnostic capacity of MRI and its predictive value for long-term outcomes. Even longer-term follow-up (>10 years) is necessary to provide reliable data; however, the validity of MRI in the diagnostic process can only be approximated, as it will never cover the entire gestalt of SpA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology C1-R46, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, Leiden, 2300 RC, The Netherlands

    Désirée van der Heijde

  2. Department of Rheumatology, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany

    Martin Rudwaleit & Jochen Sieper

  3. Department of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, Maastricht, 6202 AZ, The Netherlands

    Robert B. M. Landewé

Authors
  1. Désirée van der Heijde
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  2. Martin Rudwaleit
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  3. Robert B. M. Landewé
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  4. Jochen Sieper
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Contributions

D. van der Heijde and M. Rudwaleit researched data for the article. All authors made substantial contributions to discussion of content. D. van der Heijde wrote the article. All authors were involved in review/editing of the manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to Désirée van der Heijde.

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van der Heijde, D., Rudwaleit, M., Landewé, R. et al. Justification for including MRI as a tool in the diagnosis of axial SpA. Nat Rev Rheumatol 6, 670–672 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2010.160

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