The Clinical Importance of Enthesitis | Key Information and Features of Enthesopathy

Enthesis, enthesitis or enthesopathy are terms many clinicians go through their career without really hearing about. It’s something that just isn’t discussed that often, perhaps laying low under the radar compared to its better known neighbour; insertional tendinopathies, who were the focus of our ‘attachment-site’ injury understanding.

That being said for a number of years now enthesis-related terms have been increasing both in rheumatology literature and on social media. The spotlight deserves to be shone on them, to raise more awareness of rheumatology, applaud the academics seeking answers, and further the understanding of those curious physiotherapists who may be particularly interested.

This Physiopsot article is a brief overview of enthesitis, providing useful references for further reading.

What is an enthesis?

An enthesis is the connective tissue between tendons, ligaments or joint capsule insertions to the bone. There are two types of entheses: fibrous and fibrocartilaginous (the latter more common in rheumatic conditions; a tough, elasticated compressible tissue). Entheses are found all around the body, and examples are shown below indicated by the red circles. Other entheses mentioned in the literature are at the patella tendon origin and insertion, the tibialis anterior insertion, the iliopsoas insertion, the common hamstrings insertion, and the acromial and clavicular insertions of the deltoid muscle.

Enthesitis and Enthesopathy

Like many of the body’s tissues pathology can occur for many reasons. Put simply, enthesitis is the term used to describe inflammation at the entheses, crucially with or without swelling. The presence of which stiffens the tendon/ligament structures altering biomechanical stress. Enthesopathy, much like tendinopathy for tendons, is an umbrella term used in the literature to describe any disease process or disorder of an enthesis. Mechanically-related enthesopathy can arise from injury and micro-injury and may have a degenerative element.

Historically, it was thought that these pathologies were focal insertional abnormalities at the enthesis site, but that viewpoint has changed. Coined by Benjamin et al (2004), an enthesis organ complex is now the preferred reference for enthesis-related pathology, incorporating more of the surrounding structures in the disease process. The enthesis organ complex is thought to encompass not only the enthesis but also the bursa, fat pad, adjacent trabecular bone and perhaps even deep fascia. Arguably, this could be why enthesitis is a diffuse process of intricacies beyond the scope of this article.

‘The enthesis organ complex is thought to encompass not only the enthesis but also the bursa, fat pad, adjacent trabecular bone and perhaps even deep fascia’

An in-depth review by Kehl and colleagues (2016) delves into much greater detail about the molecular, genetic and pathophysiological mechanisms at play within enthesitis. Their review stated that repeated biomechanical stress causes micro damage at the enthesis triggering an inflammatory response in the adjacent synovium, causing synovitis. Further, they explain the role that bacteria plays in the immune system’s response in those genetically predisposed to the HLA-B27 gene – commonly found in rheumatology patients.

Clinical Diagnosis & Problems in Identifying Enthesitis

Enthesitis typically presents as pain, stiffness and tenderness of insertions without much swelling. However, swelling may also be a feature in larger insertions of the lower limbs. Enthesitis is diagnosed clinically with pain elicited on local pressure of entheseal points, or through use of imaging; magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography.

Ultrasound is believed to be more sensitive at identifying enthesitis than clinical examination and can establish specific parts of the enthesis organ complex affected. Furthermore, there are recommendations on the use of ultrasonography in identifying the most common rheumatic diseases and this is a useful document for the perusal of those interested in diagnostic ultrasound and differential diagnoses.

‘The enthesis is a relatively avascular structure and so inflammatory markers may not be elevated in entheseal-related disorders’

Clinically, enthesitis may be difficult to recognise without the presence of swelling. The enthesis is a relatively avascular structure therefore inflammatory markers such as ESR or CRP may not be elevated in entheseal-related disorders. Additionally many insertions are either inaccessible to the examiner and present with poorly localised pain. It is also believed that tender points of enthesitis may be difficult to distinguish from those of Fibromyalgia.

The Clinical Importance of Enthesitis | ‘EAMs’

As outlined in a previous post about extra-articular manifestations, enthesitis is an extra-articular manifestation in some rheumatology conditions associated with spondyloarthritis (SpA). This group of seronegative conditions affect axial and peripheral joints including: ankylosing spondylitis (or axial spondyloarthropathy), psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis and undifferentiated SpA.

When considering enthesitis as a central feature of SpA, advanced imaging and pathologic findings have shown links between these inflammatory processes and adjacent osteitis. In SpA the lower limbs are more commonly involved than the upper limbs, and heel enthesitis is the most frequent site found. In reactive arthritis, enthesitis can be seen in over half of patients, and in psoriatic arthritis it is thought that a third of the population has clinical enthesitis.

Much remains unexplored with regards to the enthesis and SpA although promising progress has been made. It is widely accepted that enthesitis is a key feature in SpA and is clearly more than a simple attachment site. For all healthcare professionals, understanding the enthesis organ complex is key in explaining synovitis and osteitis, while pain, stiffness and other clinical signs (erythema, heat and swelling) may still be the determining factors which raise our suspicions of enthesopathy without imaging.

This post was originally published July, 2017 and written by Chris Martey. The page has now been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.

References

  1. Benjamin, M., Moriggl,B., Brenner, E., Emery, P., McGonagle, D., & Redman, S. (2004) The “Enthesis Organ” Concept: Why enthesopathies may not present as focal insertional disorders. Journal of Arthritis & Rheumatism. 50(10), pp.3306-3313.
  2. Kehl, A.S., Corr, M., & Weisman, M.H., 2016. Enthesitis: New Insights into Pathogenesis, Diagnostic Modalities, and Treatment. Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, NJ), 68(2), p.312.
  3. McGonagle, D., & Tan, A.L., 2015. The enthesis in psoriatic arthritis. Clinical Expl Rheumatol, 33(5 Suppl 93), pp.36-9.
  4. McGonagle, D., & Benjamin, M. (2009) Entheses, Enthesitis and Enthesopathy. Topical Reviews: Reports on Rheumatic Diseases Series 6, 4, PP.1-6.
  5. Plagou, A., Teh, J., Grainger, A.J., Schueller-Weidekamm, C., Sudoł-Szopińska, I., Rennie, W., Åström, G., Feydy, A., Giraudo, C., Guerini, H. and Guglielmi, G., 2016, November. Recommendations of the ESSR Arthritis Subcommittee on Ultrasonography in Inflammatory Joint Disease. In Seminars in musculoskeletal radiology (Vol. 20, No. 05, pp. 496-506). Thieme Medical Publishers.