Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion General Message Board for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Related Diseases Mri of pelvis / SI joints

Is it possible to have a clean MRI of SI joints in the beginning of the disease (like first 2 years) or would it nevertheless show inflammation as it is sensitive?

Yes, it's possible. I was diagnosed with AS based on clinical symptoms, bloodwork (chronically high white count and HLA-B27+), and family history despite clear imaging. I think these days you might instead be diagnosed with "nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis" if all your imaging is clear.

Yes, it’s definitely possible and very likely. You might light up on a bone scan though like I did at first. I was diagnosed with AS almost right away. I had sacroilitis show up for years, but after being on biologics for so long then my xrays showed evidence of prior sacroilitis, and now they don’t say anything. It’s very strange. My SI joints still hurt, but not as bad as they did in the beginning years, but I attribute that to continuous biologics since 2005.

My spine has gotten progressively worse. But now I might be more considered as non radiographic axial Spondylitis. I’m HLA negative, but am textbook AS (besides SI fusion lessening). I read Kahn’s book and it describes me exactly, even the same order of symptom appearance. And I’m a woman!

Good luck.

if you want more info, this is a really good webinar on MRI and SpA. https://spondylitis.org/seminars-an...oskeletal-imaging-and-spondyloarthritis/

OK. Thanks for the replies.

I think my symptoms point more towards reactive arthiritis as it all came after some upper respiratory illness along with urinary issues, gastrointestinal issues, dry eyes and mouth sores.

So far MRI clean
Hlab27 negative
Esr and CRP low
White blood cells are oddly also borderline low

I have urinary and gastrointestinal issues at this point along with joint pain..

My younger brother complaining from lower back pain, dry eye syndrome, gastrointestinal issue since he remembers, all sorts of joint pains and aches, was recently diagnosed with Basstrup ‘s disease. But both: orthopedist based on mri as well as ophthalmologist ruled out AS or uveitis. He had conjuctivitis 4 times this year treated with corticosteroid ointment. But no AS. The only thing orthopedist mentioned Baastrup usually has some comorbidity. Could be Scheurman disease or something inflammatory?