Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42012625›Full record

ArticleIrish journal of medical science2026

Comparative radiologic characteristics of isotretinoin-induced sacroiliitis and axial spondyloarthritis.

Mehmet Gurdal Demirci, Nurcihan Yavuz Savas, Ozlem Kudas, Muhammed Aslan, Toktamis Savas, Fatma Elif Yildirim, Irada Ibramkhalilova, Fatih Albayrak, Orhan Zengin, Bunyamin Kisacik

Erratum issuedAbstract readComparative Study
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Article in Irish journal of medical science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Mehmet Gurdal DemirciDepartment of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sanko University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Nurcihan Yavuz SavasDepartment of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sanko University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Ozlem KudasDepartment of Rheumatology, Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Muhammed AslanDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sanko University, Degirmicem, Gazimuhtar Pasa Bulvarı No:36, 27090, Sehitkamil/Gaziantep, Turkey. drmuhammedaslan@gmail.com.
Toktamis SavasDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Sanko University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Fatma Elif YildirimDepartment of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Sanko University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Irada IbramkhalilovaDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sanko University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Fatih AlbayrakDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Orhan ZenginDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Bunyamin KisacikDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sanko University, Gaziantep, Turkey.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSacroiliitis is a major cause of inflammatory low back pain in young adults and a key feature of spondyloarthritis (SpA), but it may also occur with infection, pregnancy, or drug exposure. Isotretinoin, widely used for severe acne, can rarely induce sacroiliitis.

aimThis study aimed to compare the MRI characteristics of isotretinoin-induced sacroiliitis with those of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

methodsThe study population consisted of 68 patients, comprising 28 with isotretinoin-induced sacroiliitis (median age 24 years; 5 males) and 40 with axSpA (median age 30 years; 26 males). MRI scans were assessed for active inflammatory lesions (bone marrow edema, synovitis, capsulitis, enthesitis) and early structural lesions (erosion, fat metaplasia). SPARCC scoring was performed using the standardized 0-72 system. Ankylosis and sclerosis were not included as it was absent in both groups. Group comparisons were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test.

resultsWhile isotretinoin-induced sacroiliitis showed a purely inflammatory pattern without structural lesions, patients with axSpA exhibited both active inflammatory and structural lesions. Erosions and fat metaplasia were observed exclusively in axSpA patients (p < 0.001). Bilateral and symmetric involvement, as well as higher SPARCC scores, were significantly more frequent in axSpA (p < 0.05).

conclusionIsotretinoin-induced and axSpA sacroiliitis exhibit distinct MRI characteristics. Erosions and fat metaplasia are specific markers of axSpA, whereas isotretinoin-induced sacroiliitis represents a reversible, non-destructive inflammatory process. The present results may assist clinicians and radiologists in distinguishing between these two conditions in clinical practice.

Indexed as

Axial SpondyloarthritisDermatologic AgentsIsotretinoinSacroiliitisAcne VulgarisAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleYoung AdultDermatologic AgentsIsotretinoinAcne vulgarisAxial spondyloarthritisInflammationIsotretinoinSacroiliitis

Identifiers

PMID42012625
PMCPMC13588890

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.