Joana Carvalho,  —

Ankylosing spondylitis places a large financial burden on the German healthcare system, especially the costs of certain medications and patient hospitalizations, a study finds. The results, “Ankylosing spondylitis causes high burden to patients and the healthcare system: results from a German claims database analysis,” were published in…

While both Cosentyx (secukinumab) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been found to reduce disease progression in people with ankylosing spondylitis, analysis of trial data shows that the anti-rheumatic therapy worked slightly better over a two-year period. However, while Cosentyx did a somewhat better job in…

People with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis share the same disease comorbidities as those affected by ankylosing spondylitis, which may hold implications regarding treatment management, a study finds. The findings, “Comparison of comorbidities and treatment between ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in the United States,” were published in Rheumatology.

A six-month course of treatment with Janssen‘s Simponi (golimumab) or Remicade (infliximab) significantly reduced the use of healthcare resources and increased work productivity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), according to a study. The study, “Treatment with golimumab or infliximab reduces health resource utilization and increases…

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis are more likely to develop venous thromboembolism — a condition in which a blood clot that forms in a vein can cause a heart attack or stroke — compared to the general population, a study has found. The research, “Risk of venous thromboembolism in…

Despite being rare, kidney complications should be considered in patients with ankylosing spondylitis treated with inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), such as Remicade (infliximab), according to a case report. The study, “Infliximab-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis,” was published in Rheumatology…

While serum levels of sclerostin — a protein that regulates bone formation — are identical in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and healthy individuals, serum BMP-2 levels are higher in patients, suggesting a link between these bone-promoting cells and disease development, a meta-analysis study has found. The study, “Serum Sclerostin…

Emodin, a plant compound used in traditional Chinese medicine, has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic properties that, when combined with autophagy inhibitors, may be a promising therapeutic strategy to alleviate symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, a study reports. The study, “Emodin induces apoptosis and autophagy of fibroblasts obtained from…

Levels of a tiny RNA molecule, called miR-214, correlate with ankylosing spondylitis disease activity and may be used as a noninvasive biomarker in diagnosing the disease, a study has found. The study, “Serum miR‐214 as a novel biomarker for ankylosing spondylitis,” was published in the International Journal…

Izana Bioscience has launched a proof-of-concept Phase 2 clinical study to assess the efficacy of namilumab in patients with moderately to severely active ankylosing spondylitis. The trial is currently recruiting at sites across the U.K., and first results are expected by early 2019. Ankylosing spondylitis is a debilitating type of…