Patients' Perspectives on Axial Pain in Relation to Inflammation and Structural Damage in a Large Cohort of Axial Spondyloarthritis Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore to what extent patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) link experienced pain in the neck, back, and hips to inflammation and/or structural damage. METHODS: Patients from the Groningen Leeuwarden Axial Spondyloarthritis (GLAS) cohort visiting the outpatient clinic between 2016 and 2019 filled out two additional questions in relation to the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) question 2: (1) "To what extent do you think the pain you experience in your neck, back, and hips is related to inflammation caused by axSpA?" and (2) "To what extent do you think the pain you experience in your neck, back, and hips is related to damage of the spine and joints caused by axSpA?" Answers had to be depicted on a numeric rating scale from 0 (none) to 10 (very much); a difference of ≥2 points between the scores of these questions was considered clinically relevant in favor of the highest scoring question. RESULTS: A total of 688 patients with axSpA (24% with nonradiographic axSpA [nr-axSpA]) were included (62% male, mean ± SD age 48 ± 14 years, and mean ± SD Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score [ASDAS] 2.3 ± 1.0). Seventy-five percent of patients could not link the origin of their pain, 15% linked axial pain predominantly to inflammation, and 10% linked axial pain predominantly to damage. Patients in the inflammation group were younger, had shorter symptom duration, were more frequently diagnosed with nr-axSpA, had higher ASDASCRP , had more often elevated CRP levels, had fewer comorbidities, had better spinal mobility, and had less spinal radiographic damage. CONCLUSION: In our large observational cohort, the majority of patients with axSpA could not differentiate the origin of experienced axial pain. If patients were able to link axial pain to clinical inflammation or damage, it was in concordance with clinical assessments and radiographic outcome, which may be helpful in establishing the origin of pain and supporting better patient-centered treatment decisions.

The Effect of Two Years of Secukinumab Treatment on Bone Metabolism in Patients with Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results from Daily Clinical Practice.

Background: Our objective was to explore bone-related outcome and bone turnover markers (BTM) during 2 years of secukinumab treatment in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) in daily clinical practice. Methods: Included were consecutive r-axSpA outpatients from the Groningen Leeuwarden axSpA (GLAS) cohort treated with secukinumab for 2 years. At baseline and 2 years, spinal radiographic damage was assessed using the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS; 0-72), cervical facet joint involvement according the "de Vlam" scoring method (0-15) and radiographic vertebral fractures (VF) using the "Genant" method (grade 0-3). At all visits, BTM reflecting collagen resorption (serum type I collagen C-telopeptide; sCTX), collagen formation (procollagen type 1 N-terminal peptide; PINP) and bone mineralization (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase; BALP) were measured and expressed in Z-scores to correct for the normal influence of age and gender. Results: 17 r-axSpA patients were included; 53% male, mean age was 47±15 years, mean Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) 3.9±1.2, and 53% was biological naïve. The median 2-year progression rates were 1.1 for mSASSS and 0.5 for facet joints, which was less than the smallest detectable change. One traumatic VF (grade 3) occurred. Serum levels of sCTX and PINP remained stable during secukinumab treatment and BALP decreased significantly after 2 years, with median 0-2 year change in Z-scores of +0.1, -0.4, and -1.2, respectively. Conclusion: This explorative study of r-axSpA patients treated with secukinumab in daily clinical practice showed low radiographic spinal progression during 2 years of follow-up. Collagen resorption and formation markers remained stable, whereas mineralization marker BALP decreased significantly after 2 years. Our results are in line with the results of in vitro studies demonstrating that inhibition of IL17-A resulted in suppression of osteogenic differentiation with significant decrease in mineralization.

Patients' Needs Concerning Patient Education in Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Qualitative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Within the EULAR recommendations, patient education (PE) is stated as the basis of the management of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, educational needs are scarcely qualitatively studied in axSpA. Therefore, we aimed to explore experiences and needs of PE in patients with axSpA. METHODS: A phenomenological approach was used, with semi-structured in-depth interviews with patients with axSpA including broad variation in characteristics. Thematic analysis was applied. To enhance credibility, data saturation, research triangulation, peer debriefing, member checking, theoretical notes, and bracketing were performed. RESULTS: Three interrelated themes regarding PE were identified from 20 interviews: illness perception, content, and 'availability'. Illness perception affects how patients experience and process PE, which consequently influences coping strategies. Prognosis, treatment, and coaching to self-management were identified as the most important content of PE. Regarding 'availability', face-to-face PE is preferred for exploring needs, supplemented by self-education, which can be freely applied. Additionally, sufficient time and a comprehensible amount of information were important and participants emphasized the need for axSpA-tailored information for relatives and friends. Participants reported a trusting patient-healthcare provider (HCP) relationship, and multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary attunement between HCPs as prerequisites for effective PE. CONCLUSIONS: This first qualitative study exploring patients' experiences and needs of PE in axSpA revealed that prognosis, treatment, and coaching to self-management are important regarding content, and the combination of face-to-face contact and self-education the preferred modalities. It seems essential that patients' illness perceptions are taken into account for effective PE. These results add relevant insights for future PE guidelines in axSpA.

Central sensitization has major impact on quality of life in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Persistent pain has large potential impact on quality of life (QoL). During the course of the disease, many patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) report persistent pain. Central sensitization (CS) may explain part of this chronic pain. However, the role of CS in relation to QoL has been sparsely studied in axSpA. Therefore, our aim was to explore the relationship between CS and QoL in patients with axSpA. METHODS: Consecutive outpatients from the Groningen Leeuwarden axSpA (GLAS) cohort completed the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI; range 0-100) and the AS Quality of Life (ASQoL; range 0-18). Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between CSI and ASQoL scores correcting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Of the 178 included axSpA patients, mean CSI score was 38.0 ± 14.1 and 45% scored ≥40, which indicates a high probability of CS. Mean ASQoL score was 6.0 ± 5.3 and mean ASDASCRP 2.1 ± 1.0. A CSI score ≥40 was significantly associated with higher ASQoL score (mean 9.7 vs. 3.3), higher ASDASCRP (mean 2.6 vs. 1.7), female gender (60% vs. 29%) and more often entheseal involvement (61% vs. 26%). In univariable analysis, CSI score explained a large proportion of the variation in ASQoL (B = 0.06, 95%CI: 0.05-0.07; R2=0.46). This association remained significant after correction for ASDASCRP, gender, entheseal involvement, comorbidities, symptom duration, smoking status, BMI class and educational level (B = 0.04, 95%CI: 0.03-0.05). CONCLUSION: CS is strongly related to patient-reported QoL in patients with axSpA independently from other patient- and disease-related aspects.

Central sensitization, illness perception and obesity should be considered when interpreting disease activity in axial spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Many patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) report persistent pain even when treated with anti-inflammatory agents. Our aim was to explore the presence of central sensitization (CS) and different types of illness perceptions in patients with axSpA, and to assess their associations with disease activity assessments. METHODS: Consecutive outpatients from the Groningen Leeuwarden Axial Spondyloarthritis (GLAS) cohort were included. Besides standardized assessments, patients filled out the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to investigate the association between questionnaire scores, patient characteristics and disease activity assessments ASDASCRP, BASDAI and CRP. RESULTS: We included 182 patients with a mean symptom duration of 21.6 years. Mean ASDASCRP was 2.1, mean BASDAI 3.9, and median CRP 2.9. Mean CSI score was 37.8 (scale 0-100) and 45% of patients scored ≥40, indicating a high probability of CS. CSI score, IPQ-R domain identity (number of symptoms the patient attributes to their illness), and IPQ-R domain treatment control (perceived treatment efficacy), and obesity were significantly and independently associated with both ASDASCRP and BASDAI, explaining a substantial proportion of variation in these disease activity scores (R2=0.35 and R2=0.47, respectively). Only obesity was also independently associated with CRP. CONCLUSION: CS may be common in patients with long-term axSpA. CS, as well as specific illness perceptions and obesity were all independently associated with the widely used (partially) patient-reported disease activity assessments ASDASCRP and BASDAI. Treating physicians should take this into account in the follow-up and treatment of their patients.