Eyes on the Spine: Theraputic Decisions for Pediatric Sacroiliitis Through the Life Span

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Central Time

Moderator(s)

HS

Hemalatha Srinivasalu, MD, MBBS

Children's National Hospital
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Disclosure(s): Otsuka Pharmaceuticals: Employee (Ongoing)

Session Coordinator(s)

Jaime Guzman, MD, MSc

University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Disclosure information not submitted.

The widespread use of MRI to define and monitor sacroiliitis has brought questions as to what findings are sufficient to establish the presence of active disease requiring escalation of treatment, as well as what MRI findings at what point in the life of a child or young adult with sacroiliitis would support continuing or tapering treatment. This interactive case-based session will review the essential findings in MRI of the sacroiliac joints that imply presence of active disease, or a high risk of flare, and how these findings should inform treatment decisions in children and youth with sacroiliitis.

Learning Objectives:

Distinguish changes indicative of disease activity versus residual damage in pediatric sacroiliac joints MRI imaging
Define the relative role of clinical manifestations and MRI imaging when considering when to start and advance treatments for pediatric sacroiliitis
Define the relative role of clinical manifestations and MRI imaging when considering when to stop treatments for pediatric sacroiliitis

Presentations:

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Central Time

Challenges in Defining and Monitoring Pediatric Sacroiliitis via Imaging
Speaker: Walter P. Maksymowych, MD, FRCPC, MRCP, FACP – University of Alberta
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Central Time

When to Start and When to Stop: Treatment Decisions in Pediatric Sacroiliitis
Speaker: Pamela Weiss, MD – Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia