Seriological and scintigraphic activity was compared in 29 patients with spondylarthritis ankylopoietica (Bechterew's disease). Among our cases, 11 serologically active patients also had positive scans. the details being: cervical vertebral column in 5, thoracic vertebral column in 7 cases and the lumbar vertebral column and iliosacral joint in all 11 patients. In the group of 16 serologically inactive patients, 12 cases could be confirmed radiologically, in the remaining 4 early detection of ankylosing spondylarthritis was possible from the scintigraphic findings in combination with the clinical symptoms. The clinically suspected diagnosis of an incipient Bechterew's disease could not be justified in the remaining 2 patients who had no positive scintigraphic or serological results.