News

TNF inhibitors aid AS bone density, but fractures remain a risk

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…

Potential sex-specific AS genetic markers seen, may aid treatment

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…

Inflammation tied to cardiovascular disease risk in axSpA patients

Inflammation in people with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), which includes ankylosing spondylitis, is linked to multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease, with differences evident between men and women, a Spanish study found. Cardiovascular disease refers to a group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, ranging from arrhythmias and…

NSAIDs work as well as advanced therapies in controlling AS: Study

Both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and more advanced medications appear to keep disease activity and structural damage under control in people with axial spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a real-world study found. The study, “Clinical and structural damage outcomes in axial spondyloarthritis patients receiving NSAIDs or advanced therapies:…

Rinvoq lessens disease activity for most with nr-axSpA in Phase 3 trial

One year of treatment with Rinvoq (upadacitinib) reduced disease activity for most adults with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) — an inflammatory condition related to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) — in a Phase 3 clinical trial. “These longer-term results continue to support the favorable benefit-risk profile of [Rinvoq] once daily…

NSAID dosing tied to increased risk of cardiovascular disease in AS

Treatment with high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease among adults with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), according to a Korean real-world study into NSAID dosing. Specifically, the risk was significantly higher for conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and congestive heart…

Women maintain Cimzia blood levels throughout pregnancy

Women with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) or other inflammatory diseases maintained stable therapeutic levels of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) throughout pregnancy, as announced by UCB, the therapy’s developer. The results, from the open-label Phase 1b CHERISH clinical trial (NCT04163016), were presented at the European Congress of Rheumatology held…