Radiological manifestations in 200 patients with ankylosing spondylitis: correlation with clinical features and HLA B27.

The radiological manifestations of 200 patients with ankylosing spondylitis were appraised, and correlated with the patient's sex, anterior uveitis, and HLA B27. Radiological findings in female patients were no different from male patients. Only syndesmophyte formation in the spine was found significantly more frequently in patients with uveitis and HLA B27. Osteoporosis of the spine correlated strongly with a later age of onset, longer duration of the disease, older age at the time of study, Romanus lesions, syndesmophytes, spinal fusion, osteitis pubis, and widespread radiological destructive peripheral joint disease. Syndesmophytes were most frequently present at the dorso-lumbar junction. Spondylodiscitis was present in 8 patients and was most commonly present in the thoracic spine.