The seronegative spondyloarthropathies

Abstract

The four seronegative spondyloarthropathies can be divided into two main groups by their pattern of sacroiliitis and spondylitis (Table 1). The axial skeletal changes of ankylosing spondylitis and enteropathic arthropathy are often indistinguishable, as are those of psoriatic arthritis and Reiter's syndrome. Early proximal appendicular joint involvement in ankylosing spondylitis is a poor prognostic sign except in women where peripheral arthritis is more common, but has a more benign course. Peripheral joint destruction in enteropathic arthropathy is rare because treatment of the bowel disease also treats the arthritis. Distal appendicular involvement is characteristic of psoriatic arthritis and Reiter's syndrome. Proliferative erosions and enthesitis, periostitis, and normal mineralization aid in differentiating psoriatic arthritis and Reiter's syndrome from rheumatoid arthritis. The distribution of arthritis also differs from that seen in classic rheumatoid arthritis, with asymmetry and involvement of the distal interphalangeal joints more common in psoriatic disease and Reiter's syndrome.