Ann Rheum Dis: High prevalence of postpartum arthritis-like MRI lesions in women

Bone marrow edema (BMO) on MRI of the sic) joint (SIJs) is a hallmark of the central axis spinal arthritis (SpA), but this injury occurs in healthy subjects in the event of increased mechanical stressTherefore, the study aims to describe the relationship between pregnancy/childbirth and pelvic stress through a prospective study using repeated MRIsThe results were matched with mother, child and birth characteristics35 women underwent baseline MRI-SIJ tests within 10 days of deliveryRepeated MRI after 6 months, if positive for arthritis according to the definition of the International Association of Spinal Arthritis (ASAS), then re-iMR after 12 monthsBMO and structural lesions were graded by three trained participants using the Canadian Association for the Study of Spinal Arthritis (SPARCC) methodology77% of the subjects (27/35) developed bMO after childbirth, 60% of which met the MRI-positive definition of ASASSix months later, 46% of the subjects (15/33) were BMO and 15% of the MRI positive (5/33)After 12 months, 12% of the subjects were still positive for MRI (4/33)Structural lesions are rarely foundInterestingly, in this study, the presence of BMO was associated with short delivery times and the absence of epidural anesthesiathe prevalence of BMO in women immediately after childbirth is alarmingly highWomen with back pain need to wait at least six months for MRI-SIJ, according to the studyThe study also highlights the importance of interpreting MRI-SIJ results in an appropriate clinical context