News

Continuous use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increases the risk of hypertension by 12% in people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a prospective study suggests. The study, “Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug use is Associated with Incident Hypertension in Ankylosing Spondylitis,” was published in the journal Arthritis Care &…

Women with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) stay with TNF inhibitor treatment for significantly shorter periods than men, mostly due to ineffectiveness, and they are at higher risk of developing infections while on these biological therapies, according to real-world data from the Netherlands. The study, “Gender differences in retention rate of…

Gout —a common, painful form of arthritis that causes swollen, red, hot, and stiff joints — may be more common in people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) than in the general population, a study suggests. Among people with AS, this association is particularly likely in patients ages 40-60,…

The European Commission has approved a label update for Cosentyx (secukinumab) that will allow healthcare providers to prescribe doses of up to 300 mg — twice what was previously approved — for people with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Cosentyx, developed and marketed by Novartis, is a…

Men, people who are employed, have a lower income, perceive less control over their lives, and are less satisfied about their social roles, are among those with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) more prone to depression, a Dutch study has shown. While disease activity contributes only moderately to depression,…

Treatment with Xeljanz (tofacitinib citrate) led to a clinically meaningful reduction in spinal and sacroiliac joint inflammation in approximately one-third of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients taking part in a Phase 2 clinical trial. The study, “Tofacitinib is associated with attainment of the minimally important…

The Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) and PatientPoint are working to improve spondylitis education, treatment, and support information at rheumatology practices nationwide. The partnership will utilize PatientPoint’s platform, designed to educate and empower patients, caregivers and staff to improve health outcomes and patient experiences in a range of specialties. It will…

Psoriasis in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients is not related to axial psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a type of psoriasis causing lower back inflammation and pain similar to AS, a new study has concluded.  The results of the…

Anti-TNF therapies can halt disease progression and bone loss, and are associated with clinical improvement in people with ankylosing spondylitis after one year of treatment, a study shows. The study, “Effects of 1-year anti-TNF-α…

Treatment with Novartis’ Cosentyx (secukinumab) significantly reduced disease activity compared to placebo in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), according to new data from the Phase 3 PREVENT trial. The trial achieved its primary endpoint (goal) of Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society response criteria (ASAS40) — defined as…