- Lambert RGW, Bakker PAC, van der Heijde D, et al. Defining active sacroiliitis on MRI for classification of axial spondyloarthritis: update by the ASAS MRI Working group. Ann Rheum Dis 2016;75:1958–63.
- Hermann K-GA, Baraliakos X, van der Heijde DMFM, et al. Descriptions of spinal MRI lesions and definition of a positive MRI of the spine in axial spondyloarthritis: a consensual approach by the ASAS/OMERACT MRI study Group. Ann Rheum Dis 2012;71:1278–88.
- Rudwaleit M, Jurik AG, Hermann K-GA, et al. Defining active sacroiliitis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for classification of axial spondyloarthritis: a consensual approach by the ASAS/OMERACT MRI group. Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:1520–7.
Perspectives
How does this update impact clinical practice?
- The ASAS MRI working group revised the existing definitions of spinal MRI lesions to increase understanding of their interpretation in the context of axSpA.
- The consensus-based update clarifies definitions for spinal MRI lesions in patients referred with undiagnosed back pain and clinical suspicion of axSpA.
- The most frequent and reliably detected lesions were fat lesions and monomorphic BMO VC lesions, while posterior elements were much less evident in this cohort of patients with undiagnosed back pain referred to a rheumatologist.
- These results may be used in ongoing efforts for re-evaluation of the definition of a ‘positive’ MRI of the spine in the context of axSpA versus non-spondyloarthritis.
