Prevalence of Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) inactive disease in a cohort of patients treated with TNF-alpha inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Treat to target (T2T), aiming at inactive disease (ID), has become the recommended strategy for axial-SpA (ax-SpA). Using the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), we assessed the prevalence of ID in ax-SpA patients treated with TNFα inhibitors (TNFi). METHODS: A multicentric, cross-sectional study was performed assessing disease activity status (BASDAI and ASDAS) of consecutive patients with ax-SpA on stable treatment with TNFi for at least six months. We analyzed differences with nonradiographic axSpA (nr-ax-SpA) and the influence of population characteristics and comorbidities in reaching ID. ID was defined as ASDAS-CRP <1.3. RESULTS: A total of 218 patients were enrolled, 165 with AS and 53 with nr-ax-SpA. ASDAS-CRP ID was reached by 89 (40.8%) patients, while 163 (74.8%) of patients achieved good disease control with BASDAI. There were no significant differences between the two diagnostic groups. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated a negative correlation of concomitant fibromyalgia, higher BASMI and current NSAIDs with the chances of reaching ASDAS-CRP ID or BASDAI <4. CONCLUSION: T2T represents a new challenge in the management of ax-SpA, with recently introduced disease activity measures being significantly more stringent. The prevalence of ID was affected by concomitant fibromyalgia, decreased spine mobility and concomitant NSAIDs.

Analysis of recurrence factors of axial-spondyloarthritis after withdrawal of etanercept / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the recurrence rate of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) treated with etanercept (ETN) combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and to explore its related risk factors. Methods A total of 125 patients with ax-SpA, who responded poorly to NSAIDs, were treated additionally with ETN (50 mg per week) for 12 weeks and simultaneously received original dosage of NSAIDs. We recorded the baseline data, including age, gender, disease duration and grading of sacroiliac joint X-ray, formation of syndesmophyte; and we analyzed the changes of the remission and recurrence conditions, Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and adverse events in the follow-up from week 0 to week 48. Risk factors of relapse after ETN withdrawl in patients withax-SpA were analyzed using binary logistic regression model and Cox regression model. Results Before treatment, 28 (22.4%) patients showed syndesmophyte formation and 58 (46.4%) had graded 3 X-ray sacroiliac joint classification. After continuous treatment with ETN for 12 weeks, 120(96.0%) patients achieved clinical remission, with BASDAI, BASFI, ESR and CRP decreasing significantly (P<0.05). Within 48 weeks of follow-up, 29 (23.2%) patients had relapse, and the maintenance of remission lasted for (36.8 ± 12.3) weeks. Binary logistic regression model analysis showed that syndesmophyte formation was a risk factor of relapse (OR = 70, P〈0.001). Cox regression model analysis showed that the higher the grade of sacroiliac joints X-ray classification, the shorter the maintenance remission duration, and syndesmophyte formation might be a significant factor of relapse (OR = 8.77, P=0.006). Conclusion Short-term and full-dose ETN combined with NSAIDs is effective for ax-SpA patients who responded poorly to NSAIDs. The damage of sacroiliac joints and formation of syndesmophyte are predictors of recurrence.

Clinical features of HLA-B27 positive and negative patients with axial spondyloarthritis / 实用医学杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of HLA-B27 in disease activity and the clinical features of axial spondyloarthritis(SpA). Methods Clinical data of 112 patients with axial SpA was collected and studied prospectively. Clinical manifestations and laboratory examination results of 82 HLA-B27 positive and 30 HLA-B27 negative patients with axial SpA were analyzed. Data source was from Chinese Rheumatism Data Center. Results (1)The average age of onset of HLA-B27 negative patients was significantly later than that of the positive patients , and there was no significant difference in the course of disease and the proportion of male and female patients. (2)The ratio of severe lesion of hip ,peripheral arthritis ,attachment inflammation and systemic symptoms of HLA-B27 negative group were significantly lower than those of HLA-B27 positive group. Familial aggregation phenomenon,uveitis and spine radiology changes in two groups had no significant difference.(3)The changes of disease activity index including erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein increased in HLA-B 27 negative group was significantly lower than those in HLA-B27 positive group. Conclusion There is strong correlation between axial SpA and HLA-B27. The average age of onset of HLA-B27 negative patients was significantly later than that of the positive patients. HLA-B27 negative patients manifested severe symptoms and worse prognosis.

Comparison of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) from a single rheumatology clinic in New Delhi.

AIM: Comparison of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) classified with the recent ASsessment of spondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria. PATIENTS & METHODS: This study included 288 patients clinically diagnosed as having spondyloarthritis (SpA) where a satisfactory radiograph of sacroiliac (S-I) joints was available. The AS and the nr-axSpA groups were compared for the various SpA-related variables. RESULTS: Of 288 axSpA patients, there were 187 with AS. Of the remaining 101 patients without radiographic sacroiliitis, S-I joint magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was available in 72; 54 of them showed active sacroiliitis thus classified as nr-axSpA according to the ASAS criteria. The remaining 18 patients with normal MRI and the other 29 patients without MRI of the S-I joints (total 47 patients), were classified as nr-axSpA using the 'clinical arm' of the ASAS criteria. On comparing the 187 AS with 101 patients in the nr-axSpA group, the AS group showed significantly more males, longer disease duration, more axial symptoms at disease onset, higher Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index and more syndesmophytes. Biologicals were offered significantly more often to the AS group but methotrexate as monotherapy or in combination with other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs was offered more often in nr-axSpA group. There was no statistically significant difference between AS and nr-axSpA in other SpA parameters. CONCLUSION: The differences brought out between AS and nr-axSpA groups show that they may not be the same disease. A prospective long-term follow-up of large cohorts may help in clarifying if nr-axSpA is simply an early stage in the spectrum of SpA evolving into AS over time or is there inherent difference between them.