Sammanfattning
Modern imaging important tool in diagnosing spondyloarthritis
The spondyloarthritides are a group of diseases characterised by more or less pronounced inflammation of the back that usually starts before age 40–50. Patients with spondyloarthritis have both reduced quality of life and increased absence from work. Besides clinical and laboratory examinations modern imaging is important, with detection of inflammatory changes in the sacroiliac joints and vertebral column using magnetic resonance imaging. Also computed tomography can detect chronic changes in the sacroiliac joints, whereas conventional radiography has a much lower sensitivity. In parallel with the development in imaging, treatment has undergone a revolution from using mainly NSAID’s and physiotherapy to using biological drugs such as TNF-alfa-blockers. In 2012 the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare published new National Guidelines for Musculoskeletal Diseases. They recommend evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging , partly also with computed tomography but not conventional radiography,, for suspect sacroiliitis but not with conventional radiography. Furthermore, treatment with TNF-alfa-blockers is recommended for patients with active disease.