News

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients have a more than 50% increased risk of developing blood vessel clots, according to a population-based Canadian study. “Clinicians should have an increased awareness of this complication so that they can provide the best care possible to their patients,” Antonio Aviña-Zubieta, PhD, a senior scientist…

The world’s biggest gathering of rare disease researchers, patient groups, pharmaceutical executives, and government officials is planned for April 10–12 in a Washington, D.C., suburb. Some 1,200 people have already registered to attend the World Orphan Drug Congress (WODC) USA 2019, set to take place at the Gaylord National Harbor…

About 100 scientists, researchers, pharmaceutical executives, and others will converge on Austria’s capital city early next month for the 2nd International Congress on Advanced Treatments in Rare Diseases. The March 4-5 meeting, to take place at the Hilton Am Stadtpark Vienna, features 27 speakers on a variety of disorders…

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…

The risk for developing overall dementia and Alzheimer’s disease dementia is higher in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), according to a nationwide study in South Korea. The study, “Relationship between dementia and ankylosing spondylitis: A nationwide, population-based, retrospective longitudinal cohort study,” was published in the journal…

Scores of events are afoot worldwide to mark Feb. 28, Rare Disease Day 2019. The activities aim to raise awareness about rare diseases and the millions of people — estimates run as high as 350 million — they are thought to impact. Across countries, patients, caregivers and advocates will paint faces, wear…

Determining blood levels of two proteins — osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) — may help identify patients at risk of having ankylosing spondylitis, a review study suggests. However, these potential biomarkers should be used carefully as they could be influenced by race, inflammatory factors,…

Long-term treatment with TNF-alpha inhibitors improves bone mineral density (BMD) but does not affect the progression of vertebral fractures in people with ankylosing spondylitis, according to a study. The study, “Long‐term Treatment with TNF‐alpha Inhibitors Improves Bone Mineral Density But Not Vertebral Fracture Progression in Ankylosing…

Analyzing the circulating levels of a specific RNA molecule, known as MEG3, may be used as a reliable and effective biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of ankylosing spondylitis patients, a study has found. The study, “lncRNA MEG3 is downregulated in ankylosing spondylitis…