[Computerized tomography and conventional radiography in the diagnosis of destructive spondyloarthropathy. Our experience with 30 patients undergoing periodic hemodialysis].

Thirty patients of both sexes (15 males and 15 females) with chronic renal failure who had under gone hemodialysis for 2-184 months (mean 45.1 months) were examined with conventional radiographs of the cervical spine and thin-layer CT of C4-C5-C6 to evaluate the radiographic patterns of destructive spondyloarthropathy. The radiographic patterns obtained with conventional and CT exams were compared with one another and with clinical (carpal tunnel syndrome) and biochemical data (alkaline phosphatase, parathormon, Ca, P, Ca/P, Al, beta 2-microglobulin). DSA (erosion and narrowing of the intervertebral space, collapse of the vertebral body and erosion of the vertebral plates) was recognized in 7 patients with conventional radiographs and in 11 patients with CT thanks to greater CT capabilities to recognize minimal osteolytic lesions of the vertebral body. All the patients with destructive spondyloarthropathy had personal and hemodialysis age higher than those without destructive spondyloarthropathy: 59.3 vs 57.7 years; 49 vs 39 months. Parathormon and alkaline phosphatase were increased while beta 2-microglobulin was normal. Only 2 patients with DSA had carpal tunnel syndrome. In conclusion, CT is a valuable technique for the diagnosis of destructive spondyloarthropathy but it must be performed only after conventional radiographs of the cervical spine or in the presence of clinical signs of destructive spondyloarthropathy (parathormon and beta 2-microglobulin increased, long-term hemodialysis).