The chest radiograph in ankylosing spondylitis

In a study of 42 patients with ankylosing spondylitis, upper lobe fibrosis was present in six (14-3%) patients. All the patients with upper lobe fibrosis had total spinal ankylosis, and half showed peripheral joint involvement. A further 13 patients (30-9%) had other focal pulmonary abnormalities compared with only six (14-3%) of a group of age-matched controls. There was no correlation between the radiological extent of the disease (spinal changes and pulmonary involvement) and any of the haematological or biochemical parameters measured. Treatment with radiotherapy was not responsible for these changes.

Radiological manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis according to age at onset

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The treatment of persistent knee effusions with intra-articular radioactive gold: preliminary report

Eighteen chronic knee effusions unresponsive to the usual methods of therapy were treated by intra-articular injections of radioactive gold ((198)Au) and followed up for one year. Ten patients had classical rheumatoid arthritis; three intermittent hydrarthrosis (both knees were treated in one patient); two ankylosing spondylitis, and one synovitis of undetermined cause. In 12 knees the effusion completely disappeared, usually within three months. Temporary increased pain and swelling occurred during the first week in five cases. Radiation dosimetry is discussed in detail.

Ankylosing spondylitis: a late re-evaluation of 92 cases

Ninety-two patients who satisfied the criteria proposed by Kellgren for the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis were re-evaluated by clinical, radiological and laboratory parameters after an average length of illness of 18.7 years. The following associated clinical lesions were studied: aortic insufficiency 8%, heart block 3%, iritis 11%, and other associated lesions. Long-term effects of x-ray therapy were evaluated by comparing irradiated and non-irradiated patients; no significant difference was noted in the clinical course of these two treatment groups. On serum protein electrophoresis no characteristic dysproteinemia was demonstrated; in no instance was there a marked hypergammaglobulinemia. Test results for rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor and antithyroglobulin were all within the range expected for a normal population. In addition to bilateral sacroiliitis, several other characteristic radiological lesions, such as anterior spondylitis, were present in a high percentage of cases. It is suggested that the diagnostic criteria proposed by Kellgren, although useful, should be enlarged and refined.