Tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNF blockers) have revolutionized the treatment of patients with anklyosing spondylitis. Despite clinical efficacy, there are questions and controversies treating rheumatologists face, which this review…
There are 2 groups of drugs that have been shown effective in the treatment of patients with axial spondyloarthritis: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and tumor necrosis factor α blockers. Conventional disease-modifying…
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are considered a first-line therapy in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), including ankylosing spondylitis. NSAIDs reduce pain and stiffness effectively in most patients, are able to…
Spondyloarthritis can be considered one of the prototypes (besides rheumatoid arthritis) of an inflammatory rheumatic disease. The locomotor system is prominently involved with arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis, sacroiliitis, and/or axial disease;…
The outcome of patients suffering from spondyloarthritis is determined by chronic inflammation and new bone formation leading to ankylosis. The latter process manifests by new cartilage and bone formation leading to…
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a well-known extra-articular manifestation in spondyloarthritis (SpA); about 6.5% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis develop IBD during the course of the disease. The pathogenesis of…
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and spondyloarthritis are strongly genetically determined. The long-standing association with HLA-B27 is well described, although the mechanism by which that association induces AS remains uncertain. Recent developments…
Chronic inflammatory spondyloarthritis involves axial symptoms of the spine and sacroiliac joints, or peripheral arthritis. Many patients suffer from extra-articular manifestations. With acute anterior uveitis, rapid treatment prevents synechiae. Other…
Magnetic Structural changes in axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) are best identified by conventional radiographs, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the gold standard for assessment of inflammatory changes. Imaging of…
Inflammatory back pain (IBP) is a relatively recent and well-accepted concept whose precise definition remains elusive. The definition of IBP varies by criteria set, as does its sensitivity and specificity…
