News

Researchers are reporting the rare case of an Andersson lesion — a destructive spinal lesion without history of trauma — in a 79-year-old man in Greece with undiagnosed ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Rarer still, the lesion likely was caused by an infection and partial paralysis. This case is believed to…

The European Medicines Agency has agreed to review UCB’s applications seeking the approval of bimekizumab for adults with active axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Axial spondyloarthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis affecting the joints of the spine, chest, and pelvis. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a severe type of axSpA,…

People with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriasis — a skin disease causing red, scaly, itchy patches that often occur on the elbows, knees, trunk, and scalp — are more likely than those with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) to have back pain, but less likely to have nail lesions, according to…

Side effects to anti-TNF therapies are as common and similar among people with ankylosing spondylitis as they are among other rheumatic diseases, a new study indicates. The study, “Disease-specific ADRs of TNF-[alpha] inhibitors as reported by patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases: a registry-based prospective multicenter cohort study,” was…

Women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) are diagnosed significantly later compared to men, according to a new study. The presence of widespread pain and arthritis were the early symptoms most commonly found in women and linked with a diagnosis delay. The study, “Gender-related differences in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA)…

In the U.S., people with ankylosing spondylitis who report more difficulties in their day-to-day life also tend to have higher healthcare costs, according to a new analysis. “The results presented provide further evidence of the economic burden and increased resource use experienced by patients with more severe physical disability…

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) led to bone formation that resulted in the rare complete fusion of ankle and foot bones in a 69-year-old man, a case study reported. His AS was discovered only after hospitalization for kidney problems and an examination for gout. The researchers suggested the terminology “boot sign”…

High levels of the pro-inflammatory molecule GM-CSF were found in the bloodstream of people with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and strongly correlated with disease activity, a pilot study suggested. Despite helping to lower disease activity, anti-TNF therapies did not affect GM-SCF levels. As such, GM-SCF may represent a…

A new algorithm based on artificial intelligence (AI) could help clinicians reach an earlier diagnosis of akylosing spondylitis (AS), a study found. Using only demographic and clinical data derived from standard blood tests, the method does not require more costly and less widely available imaging techniques, researchers say. The algorithm…

People with ankylosing spondylitis (AS)-related kyphosis — a “humpback” appearance — showed good post-surgery outcomes with a technique called satellite rods, a Chinese study shows. The use of satellite rods had been linked to a lower rate of complications in people undergoing spinal surgery, but its use in AS-related kyphosis…