Sacroiliitis is the name given to inflammatory changes affecting the sacroiliac joint, i.e. the joint between the sacrum and ilium at the lower part of the spine. This inflammation is chronically progressive and extremely painful.
Causes
Sacroiliitis occurs very rarely as a single disease. As a rule it is a secondary disease or complication of an existing basic disease. Diseases that are frequently associated with sacroiliitis are many rheumatic diseases, as well as chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) are regularly associated with sacroiliitis.
It is not yet clear which factors must ultimately be present for sacroiliitis to occur. However, as for most of the above mentioned diseases, it is noticeable that there is an accumulation of the HLA-B27 protein complex among affected persons. Thus, a genetic disposition is present.
- Bechterew’s disease
- Reiter’s disease (or Reactive Arthritis in general)
- Behçet’s disease and
- The psoriatic arthritis.
Indications
First signs of sacroiliitis are usually pain in the lower back or buttocks. In general, such complaints are very common and only in rare cases is sacroiliitis the cause. Typical signs of this disease, however, unlike most other causes of pain, are that the symptoms occur mainly at night and in the early morning hours.
After getting out of bed and during movement, however, the symptoms improve. Since most back pain is triggered or aggravated by movement, this is a further indication of the presence of sacroiliitis. A radiation of the pain in the thighs is also possible, but is not a specific sign of the disease. In the further course of the disease, signs such as pain when sitting, walking, climbing stairs or standing for a longer period of time may occur. If signs of sacroiliitis are noticed, a doctor should be consulted so that he can investigate the suspected presence of the disease by means of an examination.