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People with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) face difficulties in diagnosis and treatment, must deal with the debilitating effects of disease symptoms, and handle adjustments in social roles, often while contending with a lack of understanding and support — all factors that add to an increased disease burden for patients. That’s…

Certain microRNAs, molecules involved in controlling gene activity, were dysregulated in adults with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), a study found. Altered levels of these microRNAs were linked with elevated blood levels of pro-inflammatory signaling proteins implicated in the development and activity of axSpA. MicroRNAs as biomarkers “could help improve the early…

Women with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have a greater risk of pregnancy complications that can affect both the mother and the child than do those without the inflammatory condition, a U.S. population-based study found. Among the maternal complications found were higher rates of cesarean delivery, gestational diabetes, or diabetes during…

People with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have significantly lower levels of self-reactive antibodies targeting protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1A (PPM1A) in their blood than healthy controls and people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a pilot study. PPM1A is a protein implicated in several bodily processes, including wound healing, inflammation, and regulation…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Bimzelx (bimekizumab-bkzx) for adults with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS), UCB Biopharm, the therapy’s developer, has announced. The dual interleukin-17A (IL-17A)/IL-17F inhibitor’s approval also extends to adults with active nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) with signs of inflammation and active psoriatic…

Changes in the activity of two genes related to a type of programmed cell death called necroptosis — also implicated in other autoimmune diseases — were linked to the development of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a new study revealed. Those genes, FASLG and TARDBP, were “pinpointed” with the aid of three machine learning…

Lower socioeconomic status is associated with more severe disease, longer diagnosis delays, and permanent disability in people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a Spanish study showed. Even with similar access to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), socioeconomic status may be a significant factor for understanding health outcomes differences between AS patients,…

Certain gut bacteria may influence disease risk in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), with some bacteria associated with a protective effect against its development and others with a causal effect. These are the findings of a new study from China that analyzed genetic variants linked to different groups of gut bacteria…

Bone density increased significantly with long-term TNF inhibitor (TNFi) treatment for people with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), most of whom had ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a study suggests. Despite the improvement, which could mean bones are becoming stronger, some patients continued to have new or worsening fractures in the spine, which…

Genetic analyses found altered activity in several genes related to programmed cell death in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients that was not evident in healthy individuals, a study reported. Significantly distinct genetic differences between men and women with AS also were identified, which researchers suggest may serve as new sex-specific…