Correlation between magentic resonance imaging features of sacroiliac joints and human leukocyte antigen B27 in enthesitis related arthritis

Abstract

Objective To describe the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) features of sacroiliac joints and human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) test results of enthesitis related arthritis (ERA). Methods Sixty-three patients with ERA confirmed by clinical examination were included in this retrospective study from January 2012 to December 2013 in Shanghai Children′s Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.All the patients underwent sacroiliac joints MRI scanning and HLA-B27 blood test before any treatment.Chi-Square test was applied to analyze the correlation between MRI features of the sacroiliac joints and HLA-B27 test results of ERA. Results There were 31 patients with HLA-B27 positive and 32 negative ones.The main manifestations of sacroiliitis were subchondral bone erosion and bone marrow edema.Fifty-four patients had bone marrow edema adjacent to joint.Eighteen patients had bone marrow edema of the osteochondral interface. Thirty-seven patients had subchondral bone erosion.Twenty-seven positive patients (27/31 cases, 87.09%) and 27 negative ones (27/32 cases, 84.38%) had bone marrow edema adjacent to joint.Bone marrow edema of the osteochondral interface between 2 groups had no statistical difference(P>0.05). Sixteen positive patients (51.62%, 16/31 cases) and 2 negative ones (6.25%, 2/32 cases) had bone marrow edema of the osteochondral interface.Twenty-five positive patients (80.65%, 25/31 cases) and 12 negative ones (37.50%, 12/31 cases) had subchondral bone erosion.Bone marrow edema adjacent to joint and subchondral bone erosion were more common in HLA-B27 positive group (P<0.01). Conclusions The sacroiliac joint MRI features have relevance to HLA-B27 test result.HLA-B27 positive ERA patients have more serious inflammation reactions than negative patients. Key words: Enthesitis related arthritis; Sacroiliac joint; Magnetic resonance imaging; Human leukocyte antigen B27