Last Updated: December 6, 2006
Synonyms and related keywords: ankylosing spondylitis, undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, Marie-Strümpell disease, von Bechterew disease, von Bechterew's disease, spondyloarthropathies, SpAs, AS, rheumatoid spondylitis, USpA, peripheral enthesitis, sacroiliitis, Schober test, cauda equina syndrome, dactylitis, European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group criteria, Amor criteria, New York criteria, Rome criteria, Romanus lesion, bamboo spine, fused spine, Reiter syndrome, Reiter's syndrome, reactive arthritis, ReA, RS, psoriatic arthritis, PsA, Whipple disease, Behçet disease, uveitis, iritis, iridocyclitis
Contents: Introduction Clinical Differentials Workup Treatment Medication Follow-up Miscellaneous Pictures Bibliography
Author: Lawrence H Brent, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University; Chair, Program Director, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Albert Einstein Medical Center
Background: The spondyloarthropathies (SpAs) are a family of related disorders that includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Reiter syndrome (RS), reactive arthritis (ReA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), spondyloarthropathy associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (USpA), and, possibly, Whipple disease and Behçet disease. Ankylosing spondylitis is the prototypical SpA and its name means "inflamed spine growing together." It has been designated by various names, including rheumatoid spondylitis in the American literature, spondyloarthrite rhizomegalique in the French literature, and the eponyms Marie-Strümpell disease and von Bechterew disease.

Spinal Hydatid Disease, a Rare but Existent Pathological Entity: Case Report and Review of the Literature
George S. Sapkas, MD; Theofilos G. Machinis, MD; George D. Chloros, MD; Kostas N. Fountas, MD, PHD; George S. Themistocleous, MD; George Vrettakos, MD
South Med J. 2006;99(2):178-183.
Spinal hydatid disease is a not uncommon cause of spinal cord compression in endemic countries; however, involvement of the epidural space with sparing of the vertebral column is rare. Early diagnosis and surgical decompression with total removal of the hydatid lesion, when possible, is generally considered the standard of care for this disease. The authors describe a case of massive epidural hydatid disease without involvement of the vertebral column in a 62-year-old male patient, treated with a 2-stage surgical operation and administration of systemic albendazole. The literature is reviewed regarding the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of spinal echinococcosis.