Ankylosing Spondylitis Resource Center

The availability of new medications approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to treat ankylosing spondylitis (AS), as well as new evidence on tapering and discontinuing biologics, magnetic resonance imaging and radiograph imaging were the driving forces behind the release of a revised treatment guideline for AS and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in 2019. In this resource center, you’ll find our summary of the guideline, as well as research reviews, case reports and clinical articles on advances in the diagnosis and management of AS.

FEATURED ARTICLE: Early & Long-Term Remission of Spondyloarthritis

Care of Patients with Spondyloarthritis

At the ACR Convergence session CARE: Spondyloarthritis, Alexis Ogdie, MD, presented key principles of diagnosis & management of patients with spondyloarthritis.... [Read More]

The Big Picture: How to Assess Disease Activity in Patients with axSpA & PsA in Clinical Practice

Two experts described the measurements of disease activity used in axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis and how rheumatologists can apply them in practice. ... [Read More]

Early & Long-Term Remission of Spondyloarthritis

Filip Van den Bosch, MD, described his strategies for caring for patients with SpA and the possibility of achieving disease inactivity. ... [Read More]

Cytokine Targets & Treatment Developments for Psoriatic Arthritis & Spondyloarthritis

ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—In recent years, a pathophysiological role for the interleukin (IL) 17/IL-23 axis in the development of psoriasis, enthesitis and inflammatory arthritis has been investigated in both rodent and human models. Clinical trials have demonstrated differential benefits for skin disease and joint disease in patients with psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and ankylosing spondylitis… [Read More]

MRI & Axial Spondyloarthritis: Experts Discuss Controversies in the Diagnostic Evaluation of axSpA

Three experts discuss the ins and outs of using magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose axial spondyloarthritis, particularly in individuals who lack clear clinical symptoms indicative of disease. ... [Read More]

FDA Receives Upadacitinib Application for Ankylosing Spondylitis & Approves Tramadol Hydrochloride Oral Solution

In August, Abbvie submitted a new drug application for upadacitinib to treat ankylosing spondylitis. And in September, the FDA approved an oral solution of tramadol hydrochloride for pain.... [Read More]

Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis Recognized with ICD-10 Code

The new diagnostic code should streamline billing for treatment of nr-axSpA, better define the spectrum of spondyloarthritic diseases and enable new research strategies into these conditions.... [Read More]

Interleukin 17 Inhibitors Promising in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients

In patients with active ankylosing spondylitis, IL-17 inhibitors have produced favorable responses, according to recent research…... [Read More]

Clinical Pearls: What We Know About Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

ACR BEYOND LIVE—Much, if not all, of rheumatology relies on clinical interpretation of historical, laboratory and imaging information to formulate a coherent diagnosis and treatment plan—even when such information is incomplete or has multiple possible interpretations. One of the best examples of this situation pertains to nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), a condition that is just… [Read More]

Ankylosing Spondylitis & Uveitis: An Ophthalmologist’s Perspective

It’s often said the eyes are the window to the soul, and in the case of ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloarthropathies, one can also say the eyes are the window to systemic disease. Although uveitis occurs in approximately 2–5% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 6–9% of patients with psoriatic arthritis and 25% of patients… [Read More]