A. Diagnosis* | ||
---|---|---|
1. Clinical criteria | ||
a) | Low back pain and stiffness for more tan three months, which improves by exercise, but is not relieved by rest | |
b) | Limitation of motion of the lumbar spine in both the sagittal and frontal planes | |
c) | Limitation of chest expansion relative to normal values correlated for age and sex | |
2. Radiological criterion: | ||
Sacroiliitis grade ≥2 bilaterally or grade 3–4 unilaterally | ||
B. Grading | ||
1. | Definite ankylosing spondylitis is considered if the radiologic criteria is associated with at least one clinical criterion | |
2. | Probable ankylosing spondylitis if: | |
a) | Three clinical criteria are present | |
b) | The radiologic criterion is present without any signs or symptoms satisfying the clinical criteria (other causes of sacroiliitis should be considered) | |
Radiographic criteria | ||
Grade 0 = normal | ||
Grade 1 = suspicious changes | ||
Grade 2 = minimal abnormality – small localized areas with erosions or sclerosis, without alteration in the joint width | ||
Grade 4 = severe abnormality –total ankylosis. |