IMPACT OF PREGNANCY ON SACROILIAC IMAGING IN WOMEN WITH AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS OF THE DESIR COHORT
Abstract: 0513
Authors: Elodie Portier et al.
Key content:
Inflammatory lesions of the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) in imaging are the key feature of axial spondyloarthritis. Pregnancy can also lead to changes in the SI joints. This study using data from the French DESIR cohort evaluated the impact of pregnancy on SIJ imaging in early axSpA patients. 381 females were included. At baseline sacroiliitis on X-ray and MRI was more frequent in women nulligravidae (n=142) as compared to non-nulliparous women (n=232). Women with incident pregnancy (n=38) had a small change of sacroiliitis score on X-ray, but only in the left SIJ and too small to be considered as “worsening”. MRI sacroiliitis was higher at baseline than after delivery. Statistical analysis showed no effect of pregnancy on the continuous imaging score.
Relevance:
Pregnancy does not seem to worsen imaging in women with axSpA. Therefore, imaging to monitor disease activity and radiographic progression in axSpA is not relevantly influenced by pregnancy.
