Two patterns of sacroiliac joint bone marrow oedema are apparent in AxSpA determined by HLA-B27 status, body mass index or psoriasis.
Abacar K · 2026 · Joint bone spine
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What this paper found
MRI scans of 203 people with axial spondyloarthritis showed two different patterns of inflammation in the sacroiliac joints: a lower pattern tied to HLA-B27, male sex and X-ray damage, and an upper pattern tied to higher body weight, psoriasis and older age, which responded well to biologics. The disease may follow somewhat different paths depending on genetics versus mechanical load, and the scan can show which.
Why this is on the map
Links HLA-B27 status to a specific imaging signature, a bridge between the genetics thread and everyday MRI reports.
On the map under these threads
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2026.106079 · opens in a new tab. The full paper is on the publisher’s site, not here.
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