[Special disco-vertebral forms of ankylosing spondylitis]

In a retrospective study 10 cases (6 males, 4 females) of special disco-vertebral forms of ankylosing spondylitis were evaluated. In all cases radiographs showed bilateral sacroiliitis and destructive-sclerotic disco-vertebral lesions but hardly any syndesmophytes considered typical for ankylosing spondylitis. We found a rather striking diversity of morphologic changes caused by spondylodiscitis, polysegmental involvement, the simultaneous and successive appearance (in the cause of the disease) of shiny corner, as well as anterior spondylitis and spondylodiscitis. All cases had clinical and humoral signs of disease activity, and some even had extravertebral manifestations. Radiographs and clinical findings indicate that an inflammatory process causes the disco-vertebral lesions. The special forms of ankylosing spondylitis as described in this article are in accordance with the polymorphism frequently observed in this disease.