MRI useful for identifying sacroiliitis in patients with Crohn disease: Study

USA: MRI is a useful tool for the identification of subclinical sacroiliitis in patients with Crohn disease, suggests a recent study in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. According to the study, about 12%‐18% of CD patients had MRI evidence of sacroiliitis that was not associated with serologic measures, CD activity or back pain.

Prevalence of sacroiliitis in CD is variable and depends on the defining criteria. The study by Fardina Malik, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA, and colleagues aimed to identify sacroiliitis in CD patients and its associaiton with clinical and serological markers by using standardized sacroiliac joint (SIJ) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 

The researchers enrolled patients with CD (n=33) from an inflammatory bowel disease clinic who underwent SIJ MRI. Data on history of joint/back pain, CD duration, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), human leukocyte antigen‐B27 status, Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) for activity of CD, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score, and various serologic markers of inflammation were collected. 

Three blinded readers reviewed MRIs for active and structural lesions according to the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada modules. 

"There were 12%‐18% of CD patients who had MRI evidence of sacroiliitis, which was not associated with back pain, CD activity or serologic measures. This data suggests that MRI is a useful modality to identify subclinical sacroiliitis in CD patients," wrote the authors. 

The study titled, "Utility of magnetic resonance imaging in Crohn's associated sacroiliitis: A cross‐sectional study," is published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.

DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1756-185X.14081