Ankylosing Spondylitis Flashcards
What is Enthesitis?
Inflammation at the sites of ligament or tendon attachment to bone
What is the distinguishing pathological feature of SpA?
Enthesitis
What is the most typical Enthesitis?
Heel pain
What is Ankylosing spondylitis?
Chronic, systemic inflammatory disease that affects the spine and sacroiliac joints
What are the symptoms of AS?
Low back pain, limited spinal mobility
Physical findings of AS?
Tenderness of sacroiliac joints
Enthesitis in AS can also be found where?
Achilles and costochondral regions
The imaging hallmark sign of AS is
Radiographic sacroiliitis
The New York grading system for AS is from 1-4 in Roman numbers, what does eacg number represent?
1- suspicious, 4- complete total ankylosis
What could we see on an X-Ray?
Bamboo spine, shiny corners, squaring of the vertebrae
When normal X-rays don’t show enough, what do we use?
MRI, because it shows excellent evidence of the sacroiliitis and Enthesitis
What can MRI show that X-ray can’t?
Bone marrow oedema
How is Enthesitis best radiographically visualized?
Via MRI or US
When can Enthesitis be spotted on X-ray?
After ossification has occurred
How do we treat AS?
While we only support and not cure, we prescribe NSAIDS and systemic corticosteroids injected at sites of Enthesitis
