Axial Spondyloarthritis Resources

07/30/2024

I think we all know that axial spondyloarthritis can lead to issues with the cardiovascular system. This brochure addresses strategies for maintaining cardiovascular health.

🏃‍♂️Active joints and a healthy heart go hand in hand! For individuals with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), a balanced diet and regular physical activity are essential strategies for maintaining cardiovascular health.

📖Discover how RMDs can influence other non-communicable diseases and learn more about proactive health strategies👉https://www.eular.org/eular-advocacy-activities-and-materials

07/01/2024

Did you know that every abstract from EULAR from 2001 onwards is available to view for free at https://congress.eular.org/abstract_archive.cfm ? 2024 Abstracts are now available.
EULAR is the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology. It holds an annual conference at which thousands of abstracts are presented. You can see all of these in the archive. Search by keywords such as 'Axial Spondyloarthritis' or 'TNF Inhibitors'.

The EULAR Abstract Archive provides access to all the abstracts presented at the congress from 2001 onwards. Abstracts from 2005 onwards contain the citation reference.

06/26/2024

This study looks at whether a wider group of inflammatory markers, which have not been previously evaluated, may be useful for indicating sacroiliitis, the hallmark feature of axial spondyloarthritis. The conclusion? "Based on our study results, we found that the NLR, PLR, LMR, and CLR values were significantly different between sacroiliitis patients and the control group. NLR, PLR, and CLR were elevated, while LMR was decreased in sacroiliitis patients. These ratios were found to be correlated with established inflammatory markers, such as CRP and ESR, as well. ROC analysis showed that NLR, PLR, LMR, and CLR may be useful in detecting sacroiliitis, although the diagnostic performance of these ratios was moderate. Therefore, these ratios may serve as supportive diagnostic tools in clinical practice for patients suspected of having sacroiliitis."

This study aimed to investigate the potential of inflammatory markers, including platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and C-re...

06/26/2024

I hope this article from the BBC is not behind a paywall. It speaks to some of the difficulty in unravelling genes that are responsible for diseases, particularly IBD and Ankylosing Spondylitis. If you find the article is behind a paywall, please let me know and I'll try and find and post something alse about this.

Mutations in these regions of so-called "junk" DNA are increasingly being linked to a range of diseases, from Crohn's to cancer.

06/01/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/budxQyuXjpYpxSYm/?mibextid=xfxF2i

A 54-year-old female patient has been referred to a rheumatologist due to chronic back pain that began five years ago. The pain, characterized by slow onset, mo ...

04/22/2024

A summary of bimekizumab clinical trials in axSpA. Bimekizumab is a combined IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor, sold under the brand name Bimzelx. At present, it is not approved for axSpA in all countries. It is approved by the FDA in the USA. The graphs show that the drug is effective in a little under half the patients with axSpA, with a little more efficacy in those with nr-axSpA.

Recent additions to the ASAS slide library: summaries of bimekizumab (anti IL-17A and IL-17F biologic) trials,
BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2, in non-radiographic & radiographic axial SpA

See more slides here: https://www.asas-group.org/education/asas-slide-library/

04/17/2024

This is really useful information from the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society in the U.K.

Information and tools to get the most out of medical appointments for your axial spondyloarthritis or ankylosing spondylitis

04/14/2024

For more particulars on World AS Day, go to https://asif.info/worldasday/ and Download the Toolkit.

04/14/2024

Is it true that the earlier treatment commences, the better the outcome?https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36099043/

03/27/2024

There can be a lot of overlap between the spondyloarthritis conditions. This slide looks at the similarities and differences between axSpA and axial PsA.

What are the similarities and differences between axial SpA and axial PsA in terms of demographics, clinical, imaging, and other parameters?

See other new slides recently added to the ASAS slide library: https//sl.asas-group.org/?_sft_category=diagnosis&sf_paged=2

03/07/2024

Important study with interesting conclusions on the progress of disease.

⌛ Ten years data from the DESIR inception cohort:
Sacroiliac radiographic progression in axSpA

📈 Net % progression (from nr-axSpA to r-axSpA) was low: 5.8%

👫 Who's at risk:
BMO on SIJ MRI
HLA-B27+
Male
Symptom >1.5 years
ASDAS ≥2.1
Smoking

🔗 https://bit.ly/49ByZdY

03/05/2024

New slides available for the updated ASAS-EULAR recommendations for the management of axial spondyloarthritis.

The 2023 ASAS-EULAR Recommendations for the Management of axSpA -
Phase 1: physiotherapy, education, regular exercise, and smoking cessation for all patients. Start NSAIDs if symptomatic.

See >80 new/updated slides in the ASAS slide library: https://sl.asas-group.org/?_sft_category=treatment

03/05/2024

A short, six minutes video on nomenclature, uveitis and other features of spondyloarthritis by Dr. Lianne Gensler, an expert on spondyloarthritis:

Dr. Gensler reviews her top selections for ACR 2020 today, including Abstracts #0876 and #0881.

02/01/2024

"The Burden of Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Global Patient Perspective". This is the ASIF report on IMAS, the International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis, a global patient survey of how people experience their disease physically, psychologically and socioeconomically. The survey was conducted on over 5,500 patients in 27 countries across five continents. IMAS brought together patients, patient organizations, clinicians and researchers from around the world to address questions that matter most to those with the disease. You are not alone!

The IMAS findings demonstrate the need for better public and professional understanding of axSpA, so that people with symptoms get an accurate diagnosis with minimal delay.

01/16/2024

What are the unmet research needs in Axial Spondyloarthritis?
Unmet need in rheumatology: reports from the Advances in Targeted Therapies meeting, 2023, as reported in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases and RMD Open. https://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2023/12/20/ard-2023-224916
Identified unmet research needs of high priority within Axial Spondyloarthritis:
The need to understand the role of intereukin-23 (IL-23) in AxSpA pathogenesis, the need to understand the genetic relationship of the IL-23 receptor polymorphism with other related systemic inflammatory diseases, (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease). The need to understand the differences between disease phenotype and treatment effects in male and female patients.

The Advances in Targeted Therapies meets annually, convening experts in the field of rheumatology to both provide scientific updates and identify existing scientific gaps within the field. To review the major unmet scientific needs in rheumatology. The 23rd annual Advances in Targeted Therapies meet...

12/27/2023

Farewell AS, Hello AxSpA!

12/12/2023

Bimekizumab, sold under the brand name Bimzelx, is a humanized anti-IL17A, anti-IL-17F, and anti-IL17AF monoclonal antibody that is used to treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis. Please note that bimekizumab may not yet be approved in all jurisdictions for axial spondyloarthritis.

At 16 weeks, patients treated with bimekizumab reported greater improvements in both mean spine pain and morning stiffness when compared with placebo. These improvements continued through week 52.

12/10/2023

Worried about 'switching' to a biosimilar? There's no need. FDA research findings provide additional evidence for patients and their health care providers that switching between biosimilars and their reference products is not associated with major safety events.

Safety Outcomes When “Switching” Between Biosimilars and Reference Products

11/21/2023

We need more treatment options and this is potentially a breakthrough treatment:

Targeted depletion of TRBV9+ T cells induces remission in a single patient with ankylosing spondylitis, with significant improvements in functional and mobility metrics.

10/22/2023

Well worth attending or viewing afterwards.

In our next Facebook Live, Dr Arul James Empowering Pain Management will share practical ways to manage your axial SpA pain. Share your questions in the comments below, or email them to zoe@nass.co.uk.

If you can’t join us live on Facebook, you can watch the recording afterwards.

Dr James is a Consultant in Pain Medicine and author of the book ‘Empowering Pain Management: A comprehensive practical guide to mastering life with chronic pain’ https://shorturl.at/fxAO8

09/07/2023

This is a good article on the clinical manifestations and diagnosis of axSpA, with explanations of the s*x differences in diagnosis and what differential diagnosis is (a differential diagnosis is a list of possible conditions or diseases that could be causing your symptoms, then the elimination of items to come up with the most probable one).

, and substantial health care–related costs, imposing a high burden on patients, their caregivers, and society. Summary of Work Diagnosing axSpA can be difficult. In this review, we seek to help rheumatologists in recognizing and diagnosing axSpA. Major Conclusions A discussion of challenges assoc...

08/27/2023

Do you wonder what biosimilars are? Here are are answers from ACR, the American College of Rheumatology:

The ACR has compiled resources on biosimilars for rheumatologists, rheumatology professionals, and other healthcare providers.

08/26/2023

This chart belongs with the post dated August 25,2023 on the effect of exercise.

08/25/2023

This study confirms what we already know about the positive effects of exercise on axSpA.

Education, exercise and NSAIDs confirmed to be efficacious in axSpA. JAKi were proved efficacious in r-axSpA.

08/01/2023

Every patient should have a copy of the second edition of Dr. M.A. Kahn's book 'Ankylosing Spondylitis and Axial Spondyloarthritis, The Facts' published by Oxford University Press, 2023. An update to 'Ankylosing Spondylitis, The Facts' published in 2002, this book is written for patients by a patient who is also a leading authority on spondyloarthritis. It is an essential reference and reading for people living with axial spondyloarthritis and their caregivers who want to learn about the disease and how to manage it well. Available from Amazon and can be ordered through your favourite bookshop.

07/31/2023

This is an important book. Although written as a text book for clinicians and students, and is therefore not in lay language, it brings together the latest reseach in all aspect of axial spondyloarthritis. Each chapter is written by leading experts in the field, with topics covering such topics the gut microbiome and AS, the pathogenesis of AS, imaging and biologic treatments. It's well worth the money. 'Axial Spondyloarthritis' edited by Dr. Philip Mease and Dr. Muhammad Asim Khan, published by Elsevier, 2020.

06/26/2023

Many people with axial spondyloarthritis turn to supplements, vitamins and minerals, as a way to manage their disease. There isn't much evidence that vitamins do anything to help, but the message from this BBC video is that supplements can help some groups (not, unfortunately those with inflammatory arthritis), but nevertheless, always discuss any supplements you take or intend to take with your healthcare provider.

There is a lot of debate about supplements. Some health professionals claim they are essential to make up for the fact that most of us aren’t eating enough fruit and veg. Others say that supplement pills do nothing and you’re wasting your money. So what’s the truth? Kimberley Wilson, a psychol...

06/26/2023

Are you interested in the role of the gut microbiome in axial spondyloarthritis? If so, see the webinar presentation by Dr. Matthew Brown hosted by ASIF, the Axial Spondyloarthritis International Federation, on The potential to treat axSpA via the gut microbiome:

Watch Dr Matthew Brown share his research into the link between axSpA and the gut microbiome in ASIF's inaugural Member Webinar. Dr Matthew Brown MBBS MD FRA...

06/15/2023

Even though this article deals with Rheumatoid Arthritis, it's good to know that the biosimilars to adalimumab (Humira), Infliximab (Remicade) and Etanercept (Enbrel) show the clinical equivalency of their originator biologic:

The biosimilars were equivalent with the biologic regarding both ACR20 response achievement and change of Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) scores at month 6.

06/07/2023

This is a useful tool for patients before visiting their rheumatologist, particularly for the first time:

Not sure what to ask your rheumatologist? We've put together a question guide to help you make the most of your appointments.