Abstract
Sacroiliitis is important for the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), however, it is hard to identify radiographic abnormality of the spine in the early stage of the illness. We compared radiographic changes in the lumbar vertebrae with changes in the sacroiliac joint. We reviewed 19 patients (15 men, 4 women) diagnosed with AS at our hospital. Their mean age at first examination by the doctor was 35.2 years. On their first visit, five were grade 2 sacroiliitis, five were grade 3 and nine were grade 4. Squaring of the vertebral body, syndesmophyte, and shiny corner were seen in grade 2 and grade 3. Discal calcification and discal ballooning were seen in grade 4. Sacroiliitis was grade 4 in all patients with bamboo spine. It was noted that careful attention should be paid to radiographic changes of the lumbar vertebrae in the early stage of AS.
