Ankylosing spondylitis in women: A comparison of scintigraphic, clinical, and radiological findings

Since ankylosing spondylits (S.a.) tends to be milder and less progressive in women than in men, there are great difficulties in diagnosing S.a. in fermale patients. The role of scintiscanning for investigation of S.a. in women is discussed by few examiners only especially there are no investigations of quantitative sacroiliac scintigraphy in large groups of female patients. Quantitative sacroiliac scintigraphy was performed in 19 female patients with S.a. and in 30 control subjects. The sacroiliac/sacrum ratio (Index ISG/sacrum) was calculated. Significantly increased uptakes were found in the patient group compared with the controls. Especially in the early periods of S.a. the activity index was highest. When history and physical examination lead to a suspicion of S.a. and there is not verification by roentgenographic studies, sacroiliac joint scintigraphy is indicated. If clinical and laboratory findings are respected in each patient, quantitative sacroiliac scintigraphy is useful for the early diagnosis of S.a. in female patients. (orig.)