Synovitis in Spondyloarthritides

Recent studies using magnetic resonance imaging have suggested that the subchondral bone marrow and the entheses are the sites which are primarily involved in the peripheral and axial inflammation found in patients with spondyloarthritides. Histopathological analyses indicated that the typical morphological features at these sites reflect an inflammation (osteitis) at the bone cartilage interface and in the subchondral bone marrow. This finding implies that synovitis may be of minor importance, especially in comparison to other inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we summarize current available knowledge on synovial involvement in inflammatory processes related to SpA.