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Color Doppler ultrasound useful in diagnosing sacroiliitis
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Color Doppler ultrasound was successfully used to diagnose active sacroiliitis in patients with low back pain, with a positive predictive value of 87%, according to researchers.
Forty-four patients with low back pain and suspected ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were evaluated, and 10 patients with confirmed AS were evaluated as a control group. Mean age was 40 years, and 54% of the patients were male.
Mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index score was 4.8, mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index was 3.6 and Health Assessment Questionnaire was 0.6. Patients’ mean duration of disease was 2 years.
Sacroiliitis was confirmed by MRI in four patients with AS and in 17 patients with inflammatory low back pain. Color Doppler ultrasound was used comparatively and was 62% sensitive and 91% specific. Positive predictive value overall was 87%, and negative predictive value overall was 72%, according to the researchers.
Among patients with AS, sensitivity was 75% and specificity was 83%, whereas sensitivity was 59% and specificity was 94% in patients with low back pain. Positive predictive value in patients with AS was 75% compared with 91% in those with low back pain, and negative predictive value was 83% in patients with AS vs. 70% in patients with low back pain, suggesting color Doppler ultrasound may be a useful screening tool for sacroiliitis, according to the researchers. – by Shirley Pulawski
Reference:
Bravo B, et al. Paper #2987. Presented at: American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting. Nov. 14-19, 2014; Boston.
Disclosures: All of the researchers report an affiliation with UCB.