Are Ultrasound Findings Similar in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis and in Athlete Entheses?

OBJECTIVE: Enthesitis is the spondyloarthritis (SpA) landmark, but can also be seen after entheses overuse, such as during intensive sport. METHODS: We aimed to compare entheses ultrasound (US) findings in a prospective cross-sectional study of 30 axial SpA cases, 30 athletes, and 29 controls. RESULTS: Mean (SD) MAdrid Sonographic Enthesis Index (MASEI) score was 26.3 (13), 12.2 (7), and 10.4 (6) in patients with SpA, athletes, and non-athlete control groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The MASEI score was significantly higher in patients with SpA compared with healthy controls, athletes, and non-athletes, and can be of value to distinguish SpA from healthy subjects, whatever their physical activity.