[Epidemiology of rheumatic syndromes in Turkey. III. Incidence of rheumatic sacro-iliitis in men of 20-22 years].

1436 young men were investigated clinically and radiologically for rheumatic sacro iliitis. In two men (1.4%) definite bilateral sacro iliitis was diagnosed. In 18 cases (12.5%) the signs were not sufficient to make a definite diagnosis. They were regarded as suspected iliitis. For comparison the cards of 6138 patients who had called at our outpatient clinic over a 5 years' period were checked. In 40 cases (0.65%) a definite diagnosis of bilateral sacro iliitis was made, in another 45 cases (0.73%) sacro iliitis was suspected, but definite proof was lacking. The group we investigated has two characteristics. As to sex and age our test subjects (recruits) represent a group in which bilateral sacro iliitis appears relatively often. Infections are reported to increase the frequency of bilateral sacro iliitis. Our test subjects were only investigated for tuberculos infection. Active tuberculosis was not found. Also factors which may have a negative influence on the frequency were investigated. First of all the soldiers had been examined by clinical committees before recruitment. Advanced and thus clinically typical cases were eliminated by these committees and the frequency rate in the remaining group thereby decreased. The recruits came from very different parts of the country and various geographic and social factors may influence the morbidity. The frequency rates obtained at the end of the investigation have therefore to be regarded as the result of various factors some with positive and some with negative influence.