Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Feb 1:18:38.
doi: 10.1186/s13075-016-0916-2.

Evaluation of treatments for sacroiliitis in spondyloarthropathy using the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium Canada scoring system

Yang Cui  1 , Jinping Zheng  2 , Xiao Zhang  3 , Hui Zeng  4 , Riqiang Luo  5
Affiliations

Evaluation of treatments for sacroiliitis in spondyloarthropathy using the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium Canada scoring system

Yang Cui et al. Arthritis Res Ther. .

Abstract

Background: In this study, the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium Canada (SPARCC) scoring method was used to compare treatment methods in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA), a form of sacroiliitis. MRI abnormalities in bone marrow edema (BME) were compared before and after treatment in order to compare the efficacy of anti-TNF-α and DMARD, alone or in combination, as treatments for sacroiliitis.

Methods: Fifty-six Chinese patients with axial SpA (mean age 22.6 years) were recruited. Patients were divided into three groups according to different treatments (anti-TNF-α alone vs. DMARDs alone vs. combined anti-TNF-α and DMARDs). MRI examinations were performed before and after treatment. The SPARCC score, clinically relevant AS Disease Activity (ASDAS) indices, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed.

Results: After treatment, ASDAS and SPARCC scores, ESR, and CRP were significantly improved (P < 0.05) in the anti-TNF-α monotherapy and combination groups; however, there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in clinical disease activity and radiological inflammation of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) in patients in the DMARDs alone group. SPARCC showed a correlation with ASDAS score pre-treatment, but not post-treatment. Furthermore, there were significant changes (P < 0.05) in these patients with axial SpA after only 3 months of treatment. Follow-up studies of patients who continued therapy for 4-6 months and 9-12 months revealed statistically significant differences from baseline (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: SPARCC can be used to assess severity of disease pre-treatment. Anti-TNF-α treatment resulted in effective reduction of disease activity and BME of SIJ after 3 months of therapy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
BME changes a before (SPARCC score 65) and b after 6 months of anti-TNFα monotherapy (SPARCC score 22)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
BME changes a before (SPARCC score 72) and b after 6 months of treatment with anti-TNFα combined with DMARDs (SPARCC score 13)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
BME changes a before (SPARCC score 36) and b after 8 months of DMARDs monotherapy (SPARCC score 33)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Correlations between ASDAS values and MRI values in all patients before treatment. ASDAS Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity, MRI magnetic resonance imaging
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Ng SC, Liao Z, Yu DT, Chan ES, Zhao L, Gu J. Epidemiology of spondyloarthritis in the People's Republic of China: review of the literature and commentary. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2007;37:39–47. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2007.01.003. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Wigley RD, Zhang NZ, Zeng QY, Shi CS, Hu DW, Couchman K, et al. Rheumatic diseases in China: ILAR-China study comparing the prevalence of rheumatic symptoms in northern and southern rural populations. J Rheumatol. 1994;21:1484–1490. - PubMed
    1. Zhang NZ, Zeng QY, Zhang FS, Chen JB, Shi QS, Yao QP. An epidemiology study of rheumatic diseases in China. Chin J Rheumatol. 1997;1:31–35.
    1. Chen R, Wang QW, Lin QQ, Wu XR, Xu JC, Xie SH. Epidemiological study of spondyloarthropathies. Chin J Rheumatol. 2000;4:240–241.
    1. Chao TM, Han QW, Duan YC, Ji YB, Chen LZ, Dong DX. Epidemiological study of ankylosing spondylitis among some of the male soldiers stationed in the northeast military zone. Chin J Rheumatol. 2000;4:307–308.

Publication types

Substances