Assessment of Clinical Profile in Patients Suffering from Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthropathy

Abstract

Objectives Axial Spondyloarthritis is an inflammatory, immune-mediated condition comprising clinically dif- ferentiated ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). Clinically, as the name suggests, nr-axSpA lacks definitive plain X-ray evidence of structural damage to the sacroiliac (SI) joint. This study was undertaken to assess the patients with newly diagnosed nr-axSpA clinically and compare the same with those with radiographic AS. The laboratory profile of patients suffering from nr-axSpA and their outcomes over three months were also studied. Material and Method This study was conducted in the Department of Medicine over 18 months in a tertiary health care institution, being a prospective observational type done with 43 subjects. Results We observed a major improvement as per ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS) criteria present among 53.49% of subjects, followed by clinically significant improvement among 27.91% of subjects. 18.60% of subjects did not show any improvement. 9.3 % of subjects showed radiological progression. Out of 8 cases that did not show improvement, all presented with lower back pain (LBP) and morning stiffness. 62.5% had peripheral arthritis. 87.5% had Schober’s test positive, flexion, abduction and external rotation (FABER) test (62.50%), and SI joint tenderness was found among 7.5% of subjects. A total of 4 (9.3%) patients showed radiological progression. They all have low back aches and morning stiffness, and three have peripheral arthritis at presentation. We found that patients who showed progression had higher mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-Reactive protein (CRP) levels (45 and 36.5, respectively) values and very high disease activity as per ASDAS and bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) criteria. Conclusion There is a great scope and need for research to differentiate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in the normal population against the patients with spinal diseases to be able to use MRI with precision in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthropathy (nr-axSpA). As assessed, physiotherapy and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are currently first-line therapy for patients suffering from nr-axSpA.