K. De Vlam et al., Involvement of the zygapophyseal joint in ankylosing spondylitis: Relationto the bridging syndesmophyte, J RHEUMATOL, 26(8), 1999, pp. 1738-1745
Objective, To determine the prevalence of zygapophyseal (ZA) joint ankylosi
s in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the relation of this ankylosis to the
presence of bridging syndesmophytes.
Methods, Roentgenograms of the cervical and lumbar spine of 50 patients wit
h AS were scored by a vertebral body score according to Taylor and a newly
developed score for ZA joint involvement.
Results. At the cervical level 22% of the ZA joints were ankylosed and 16%
of the levels presented bridging syndesmophytes. In the lumbar spine 22% of
ZA joints were ankylosed and 16% of the vertebral levels showed ankylosis
in both ZA joints, Bridging syndesmophytes were present in 11% of the verte
bral levels. Ankylosis of the ZA joints and bridging syndesmophytes were se
en simultaneously in 14% of the cervical levels and in 9% of all lumbar lev
els. Ankylosed ZA joints were present in 21% of the lumbar levels without b
ridging syndesmophytes and in 8% of the cervical levels without bridging sy
ndesmophytes. Bridging syndesmophytes at a given level without ankylosis of
the respective ZA joint were uncommon: 4 of 201 lumbar levels and 4 of 238
cervical levels. Ankylosis of the ZA joint and presence of bridging syndes
mophytes is markedly associated, but in a discordant way.
Conclusion. The ZA joint is affected in a major way in AS. Involvement of t
he ZA joint and the presence of syndesmophytes are related. An asymmetric r
elation suggests that the ZA joint is primarily involved in AS.