ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Meetings
    • ACR Convergence 2024
    • ACR Convergence 2023
    • 2023 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • ACR Convergence 2022
    • ACR Convergence 2021
    • ACR Convergence 2020
    • 2020 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting
    • 2018-2009 Meetings
    • Download Abstracts
  • Keyword Index
  • Advanced Search
  • Your Favorites
    • Favorites
    • Login
    • View and print all favorites
    • Clear all your favorites
  • ACR Meetings

Abstract Number: 1025

Spinal Inflammation in the Absence of SI Joint Inflammation On MRI in Patients with Active Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

Désirée van der Heijde1, Joachim Sieper2, Walter P. Maksymowych3, Matthew A. Brown4, Suchitrita S. Rathmann5 and Aileen L. Pangan5, 1Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands, 2Medical Department I, Rheumatology, Charité Universitätesmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 3Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 4University of Queensland Diamantina Insititute, Brisbane, Australia, 5Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL

Meeting: 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spondylarthropathy

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
Session Information

Title: Imaging of Rheumatic Diseases: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomography and X-ray

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)

Background/Purpose: The imaging arm of the ASAS axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) criteria requires the presence of sacroiliitis on MRI or radiographs. In patients (pts) with non-radiographic axial SpA (nr-axSpA), there may be inflammation along the spine in the absence of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) inflammation on MRI. This analysis evaluated the existence of spinal inflammation on MRI at baseline (BL) in nr-axSpA pts with and without inflammation in the SIJs on MRI.

Methods: ABILITY-1 is an ongoing multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of adalimumab vs. placebo in pts with nr-axSpA classified using the ASAS axial SpA criteria, who had an inadequate response, intolerance to, or contraindication for NSAIDs. MRI of the SIJ and spine performed at BL were centrally scored using the SPARCC method (6-DVU method for the spine) by 2 independent readers blinded to the treatment codes. Mean scores of the readers were used. SPARCC score ≥2 for either the SIJ or spine was used as the operational definition of positive MRI evidence of inflammation. For these analyses, all pts were combined, independent of randomization.

Results: Mean symptom duration of the study population (N=185) was 10 yrs. At BL, 48% of pts were reported by the local investigator to have past or present MRI evidence of sacroiliitis as required by the ASAS axial SpA criteria. Of pts with available BL SPARCC scores, 40% had a BL SIJ score ≥2 and 52% had a BL spine score ≥2. Of the pts with BL SPARCC SIJ score <2, 49% had evidence of spinal inflammation (BL SPARCC spine score ≥2). Comparison of BL disease characteristics based on BL spine and SIJ scores <2 vs. ≥2 were generally comparable except for a greater proportion of males among those with spine and SIJ scores ≥2, and younger age and shorter symptom duration among those with spine and SIJ scores <2. The cumulative probability plot (figure) shows a similar distribution of SPARCC spine scores regardless of presence or absence of SIJ inflammation on MRI. The most frequently involved DVUs with bone marrow edema were in the lower thoracic and lumbar spine.

Conclusion: Assessment by experienced readers shows that spinal inflammation on MRI may be observed in half of nr-axSpA pts without SIJ inflammation on MRI. MRI of both sites might be of value when evaluating pts with nr-axSpA. These data in pts with long-standing disease need to be confirmed in pts with shorter disease duration.

Figure

 


Disclosure:

D. van der Heijde,

Abbott Laboratories; Amgen; AstraZeneca; BMS; Centocor: Chugai; Eli-Lilly; GSK; Merck; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche; Sanofi-Aventis; Schering-Plough; UCB; Wyeth,

5,

Abbott Laboratories; Amgen; AstraZeneca; BMS; Centocor: Chugai; Eli-Lilly; GSK; Merck; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche; Sanofi-Aventis; Schering-Plough; UCB; Wyeth,

2,

Imaging Rheumatology,

4;

J. Sieper,

Abbott, Merck, Pfizer, and UCB,

2,

Abbott, Merck, Pfizer, and UCB,

5,

Abbott, Merck, Pfizer, and UCB,

8;

W. P. Maksymowych,

Abbott, Amgen, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Merck, and Pfizer,

2,

Abbott, Amgen, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Merck, and Pfizer,

5;

M. A. Brown,

Abbott Laboratories,

5;

S. S. Rathmann,

Abbott Laboratories,

3,

Abbott Laboratories,

1;

A. L. Pangan,

Abbott Laboratories,

3,

Abbott Laboratories,

1.

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

« Back to 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/spinal-inflammation-in-the-absence-of-si-joint-inflammation-on-mri-in-patients-with-active-non-radiographic-axial-spondyloarthritis/

Advanced Search

Your Favorites

You can save and print a list of your favorite abstracts during your browser session by clicking the “Favorite” button at the bottom of any abstract. View your favorites »

All abstracts accepted to ACR Convergence are under media embargo once the ACR has notified presenters of their abstract’s acceptance. They may be presented at other meetings or published as manuscripts after this time but should not be discussed in non-scholarly venues or outlets. The following embargo policies are strictly enforced by the ACR.

Accepted abstracts are made available to the public online in advance of the meeting and are published in a special online supplement of our scientific journal, Arthritis & Rheumatology. Information contained in those abstracts may not be released until the abstracts appear online. In an exception to the media embargo, academic institutions, private organizations, and companies with products whose value may be influenced by information contained in an abstract may issue a press release to coincide with the availability of an ACR abstract on the ACR website. However, the ACR continues to require that information that goes beyond that contained in the abstract (e.g., discussion of the abstract done as part of editorial news coverage) is under media embargo until 10:00 AM ET on November 14, 2024. Journalists with access to embargoed information cannot release articles or editorial news coverage before this time. Editorial news coverage is considered original articles/videos developed by employed journalists to report facts, commentary, and subject matter expert quotes in a narrative form using a variety of sources (e.g., research, announcements, press releases, events, etc.).

Violation of this policy may result in the abstract being withdrawn from the meeting and other measures deemed appropriate. Authors are responsible for notifying colleagues, institutions, communications firms, and all other stakeholders related to the development or promotion of the abstract about this policy. If you have questions about the ACR abstract embargo policy, please contact ACR abstracts staff at [email protected].

Wiley

  • Online Journal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Permissions Policies
  • Cookie Preferences

© Copyright 2025 American College of Rheumatology