Periarticular corticosteroid treatment of the sacroiliac joint in patientswith seronegative spondylarthropathy

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of periarticular corticosteroid injection of the s acroiliac joint (SIJ) in patients with seronegative spondylarthropathy in a double blind, controlled study. Methods 20 patients with seronegative spondylarthropathy and clinical sacroiliitis entered the study. In 10 patients one affected SIJ was treated with periart icular injection of 1.5 ml (40 mg/ml) methylprednisoloneacetate and 1.5 ml (20 mg/ml) lignocaine (MP group), whereas 10 patients received 1.5 ml isoto nic sodium chloride and 1.5 ml (20 mg/ml) lignocaine (non-MP group). Clinic al assessment at the onset of the study and after two months follow-up incl uded the patients' estimation of pain in the SIJ by the visual analogue sca le (VAS) and by a pain index which was calculated from tenderness and stres sing tests on the SIJ. Results At the two months follow-up examination the VAS (p = 0.02) and the pain ind ex (p = 0.01) had improved significantly in the MP group compared with the non-MP group. Conclusion The results of our study indicate that the periarticular injection of methy lprednisolone may be effective in the treatment of clinical sacroliitis in patients with seronegative spondylarthropathy.