POS0939 WHEN DO THE ACTIVE SACROILIITIS MRI FINDINGS LOSS IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS? A RETROSPECTIVE, CROSS-SECTIONAL, OBSERVATIONAL STUDY
Authors: A. C. Genç, F. Turkoglu Genc, Z. Öztürk, D. Karatas, S. M. Turk, E. Gönüllü
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2021)

Background: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease that affects the spine and sacroiliac joints (SIJ). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and recently anti-TNF blockers, which are more costly than NSAIDs but used in resistant cases, are generally used in its treatment (1). Objectives: While SIJ-MRI is one of the imaging methods in the diagnosis of the disease, it is not yet used in its follow-up (2). We wanted to define when the activated SIJ-MRI findings, which showed early sacroiliitis, regressed according to the treatment option. Methods: Among the 8100 SIJ-MRIs taken in our hospital in the last 5 years, those that were reported normally were excluded from the study. Among the remaining 1150 patients with active or chronic SIJ findings, a total of 87 patients who were diagnosed with AS and had active SIJ findings in the first imaging and had a second SIJ-MRI examination for any reason were included in our retrospective, cross-sectional and observational study. According to the treatment option, how long the active SIJ-MRI findings disappeared was calculated in months using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Of the 87 patients examined in the study, 41 were women and 46 were men. The average age is 32.7. Active SIJ-MRI findings disappeared in a mean of 30.6 months for 11 of 24 patients who did not use any medication, in a mean of 33.9 months for 6 of 16 patients using NSAIDs, in a mean of 40.7 months for 14 of 34 patients using sulfasalazine, in a mean of 28.2 months for 3 of 6 patients using adalimumab, in a mean of 24.4 months for 3 of 5 patients using methotrexate, 11.9 month for 2 of 1 patient using certolizumab. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: The signs of active sacroiliitis disappeared in less time in patients who did not receive any treatment than those using NSAIDs and sulfasalazine. Patients using anti-TNF blockers had earlier results than those using no medication. The reason for this may be the progressive course of patients who are switched to the next level of treatment and their late response to treatment, as well as the mechanism of the disease (2-3). This situation brings to the agenda the tendency of physicians to over-treat the disease. More randomized controlled studies are needed regarding new treatment options. References: [1]Braun J. ‘Axial spondyloarthritis including ankylosing spondylitis’ Rheumatology (Oxford). 2018 1;57(suppl_6):vi1-vi3. [2]Braun J, Baraliakos X, Golder W, Brandt J, Rudwaleit M, Listing J, Bollow M, Sieper J, van der Heijde D. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, before and after successful therapy with infliximab. Arthritis &amp; Rheumatism Vol. 48, No. 4, April 2003, pp 1126–1136. [3]Jee WH, McCauley TR, Lee SH, Kima SH, Ima SA, Had KY. Sacroiliitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: association of MR findings with disease activity. Magnetic resonance imaging 2004:22;245–250. Disclosure of Interests: None declared