Early Axial Spondyloarthritis Research Articles

Disease activity trajectories in early axial spondyloarthritis: results from the DESIR cohort

BackgroundDisease activity may change over time in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The objectives were to identify patterns of disease activity evolution in patients with early axSpA.MethodsPatients from the prospective early axSpA...

Disease Activity As a Major Determinant of Quality of Life and Physical Function in Patients With Early Axial Spondyloarthritis.

To describe health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and physical function in patients with early axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to assess their associations with disease activity and radiographic damage. This was a cross-sectional study drawing upon baseline data of axial SpA patients (Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria) from the ESPERANZA cohort. Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations between disease activity and radiographic damage (spine and sacroiliac joints) with HRQOL, physical function, and spinal mobility. In total, 259 patients were included. The mean ± SD age was 32.2 ± 6.9 years, disease duration was 13.3 ± 6.8 months, Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life score was 5.9 ± 4.8, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index score was 2.4 ± 2.3, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index score was 1.4 ± 1.3, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score was 3.8 ± 2.3, C-reactive protein (CRP) level was 9.7 ± 13.2 mg/liter, and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index for the spine (BASRI-s) score was 1.7 ± 1.6. HRQOL was mainly associated with disease activity on univariate analysis (β values for BASDAI 0.646, patient global visual analog scale [VAS] 0.641, night back pain VAS 0.598, physician VAS 0.560, and CRP level 0.275; P < 0.01 for all), whereas the association with radiographic damage was weaker (standardized β for BASRI-s 0.142; P < 0.05). On multivariate models, HRQOL only remained significantly associated with disease activity (standardized β for BASDAI 0.330; P < 0.01, and physician VAS 0.205 and night back pain VAS 0.210; P = 0.01). Similarly, physical function was associated with disease activity and radiographic damage on univariate analysis, but only with disease activity (BASDAI β 0.466; P < 0.01) on multivariate analysis. However, spinal mobility was associated with radiographic damage in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Patients with axial SpA already have impaired quality of life and physical function, albeit mildly, at the beginning of their disease course. Both outcomes are mainly associated with disease activity in these patients.

Work productivity is associated with disease activity and functional ability in Italian patients with early axial spondyloarthritis: an observational study from the SPACE cohort.

BackgroundSpondyloarthritis often affects young people, typically in their working years. The aim of our study was to investigate work productivity and its relationship with disease activity and physical functioning in Italian patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) with chronic back pain (CBP) for ≥3 months and ≤2 years, and onset < 45 years of age.MethodsBaseline absenteeism, presenteeism, work productivity loss (assessed by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (WPAI)), and disease activity (assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI)/Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)) and functional ability (assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Functional Index (BASFI)) of patients with axSpA (rheumatologist’s diagnosis) included in the Italian section of the Spondyloarthritis Caught Early (SPACE) cohort were collected. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between work productivity and disease activity/physical functioning.ResultsAbsenteeism in 51 patients with axSpA was low (8.3 %). A decrease in work productivity was related to an increase in disease activity. Disease activity was strongly correlated with absenteeism (p < 0.01), presenteeism (p < 0.01) and work productivity loss (p < 0.001). In addition, decreased work productivity was related to a decrease in functional ability. Physical functioning was correlated with absenteeism (p < 0.001), presenteeism (p < 0.05) and work productivity loss (p < 0.001).ConclusionsImpairment of work productivity was correlated with disease activity and physical functioning in Italian patients with axSpA with CBP for ≥3 months and ≤2 years, with onset <45 years of age.

Spine and sacroiliac joints on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with early axial spondyloarthritis: prevalence of lesions and association with clinical and disease activity indices from the Italian group of the SPACE study.

Our aim was to determine the prevalence of spine and sacroiliac joint (SIJ) lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with early axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and their correlation with disease activity indices. Sixty patients with low back pain (LBP) (≥3 months, ≤2 years, onset ≤45 years), attending the SpA-clinic of the Unità Operativa Complessa Reumatologia of Padova [SpondyloArthritis-Caught-Early (SPACE) study], were studied following a protocol including physical examination, questionnaires, laboratory tests, X-rays and spine and SIJ MRI. Positive spine and SIJ MRI and X-rays images were scored independently by 2 readers using the SPARCC method, modified Stoke ankylosing spondylitis spine score and New York criteria. The axial pain and localization of MRI-lesions were referred to 4 sites: cervical/thoracic/lumbar spine and SIJ. All patients were classified into three groups: patients with signs of radiographic sacroiliitis (r-axSpA), patients without signs of r-axSpA but with signs of sacroiliitis on MRI (nr-axSpA MRI SIJ+), patients without signs of sacroiliitis on MRI and X-rays (nr-axSpA MRI SIJ-). The median age at LBP onset was 29.05±8.38 years; 51.6% of patients showed bone marrow edema (BME) in spine-MRI and 56.7% of patients in SIJ-MRI. Signs of enthesitis were found in 55% of patients in the thoracic district. Of the 55% of patients with BME on spine-MRI, 15% presented presented a negative SIJMRI. There was a significant difference between these cohorts with regard to the prevalence of radiographic sacroiliitis, active sacroiliitis on MRI and SPARCC SIJ score. The site of pain correlated statistically with BME lesions in thoracic and buttock districts. Since positive spine-MRI images were observed in absence of sacroiliitis, we can hypothesize that this finding could have a diagnostic significance in axSpA suspected axSpA.

No diagnostic utility of antibody patterns against Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular serotypes in patients with axial spondyloarthritis vs. patients with non-specific low back pain: a cross-sectional study

Objectives: To investigate whether antibody response patterns against Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular serotypes can discriminate patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) from patients with non-specific low back pain (LBP).Method: Immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA antibodies against K. pneumoniae capsular serotypes K2, K26, K36, and K50 were measured, and antibody seropositivity compared between groups and analysed for patient correlation in five different groups: (a) 96 patients fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) classification criteria for axSpA; (b) 38 patients with either a positive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan as defined by ASAS or a positive human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 status plus one clinical SpA feature, characterized as ‘non-axSpA’; (c) 82 non-specific LBP patients; (d) 40 healthy blood donors and (e) 43 patients with diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis (AS) served as the negative and positive control groups.Results: There was no difference in IgG and IgA seropositivity against all serotypes between the axSpA, non-axSpA, and LBP groups. No significant correlations were found between anti-Klebsiella antibodies and age, gender, HLA-B27, or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). IgG seropositivity against K50 was more frequent in AS (25.6%) than in axSpA (13.5%, p < 0.05). axSpA patients with radiographic sacroiliitis and AS controls concordantly had the highest frequency of seropositivity for ≥ 2 serotypes (21%).Conclusions: The antibody patterns against K. pneumoniae serotypes K2, K26, K36, and K50 did not discriminate between early axSpA and non-specific LBP.

Remission is related to CRP and smoking in early axial spondyloarthritis. The DESIR cohort

IntroductionNo evaluation of factors associated with remission has been performed in early SpA. The aim of the study was to evaluate percentage of patients in remission using and comparing different definitions of remission, and to evaluate factors associated with remission at inclusion in the prospective DESIR cohort, and after 24 months. MethodsPerformance of three definitions (ASAS partial remission [PR], ASDAS-CRP less than 1.3 [ASDAS-R], BASDAI less than 3.6 [BASDAI-R]) were assessed using sensibility, specificity and Youden Index. Data at M0 and M24 were analyzed in uni- and multivariate analysis. ResultsSeven hundred and six patients were evaluated at M0 and 577 at M24. At M0, percentage of patients in remission was 4% (PR), 8% (ASDAS), 34% (BASDAI), and at M24: 15%, 24% and 54% respectively, in the whole population and similar in Amor, ESSG and ASAS classified patients. BASDAI less than 3.6 had the best sensitivity, and ASDAS-R the best Youden index when using each of the two other definitions of remission as a gold standard. At M24 in multivariate analysis, remission was associated with less smoking, less analgesics, ASAS clinical arm fulfilling, less NSAIDs (ASDAS-R), low CRP (ASDAS-R), low BMI (BASDAI-R). However, over the two years, this study did not allow to demonstrate a relation between remission and structural progression or morbidity. ConclusionIn this population suggestive of early SpA, smoking and CRP appear as major markers of disease activity in early SpA, and associated with absence of remission.

Partial remission in ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in treatment with infliximab plus naproxen or naproxen alone: associations between partial remission and baseline disease characteristics.

To evaluate partial remission during treatment with infliximab (IFX) + naproxen (NPX) vs NPX alone in patients from the two subgroups of SpA and explore baseline predictors of partial remission. Infliximab as First Line Therapy in Patients with Early Active Axial Spondyloarthritis Trial was a double-blind, randomised controlled trial of IFX in biologic-naïve patients with early, active axial SpA. Patients were randomised (2:1) to receive 28 weeks of treatment with i.v. IFX 5 mg/kg (weeks 0, 2, 6, 12, 18 and 24) + NPX 1000 mg/day or i.v. placebo (PBO) + NPX 1000 mg/day. The current post hoc analysis evaluated outcomes in patients who did or did not meet modified New York radiographic criteria for AS. The analysis included 94 patients who met AS criteria and 56 with non-radiographic axial SpA (nr-axSpA). At week 28, Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) partial remission was greater with IFX + NPX than PBO + NPX for both the AS group (70.5 vs 33.3%, respectively) and the nr-axSpA group (50.0 vs 37.5%, respectively). A similar pattern occurred with several efficacy measures. Larger treatment effects occurred in the AS group than the nr-axSpA group, possibly due to baseline differences in disease characteristics. Multivariable analyses identified the type of treatment, age and HLA-B27 status as predictors of ASAS partial remission in the total study population. MRI sacroiliac joint scores were associated with partial remission during IFX + NPX treatment. Patients with AS had greater partial remission with IFX + NSAID than NSAID therapy alone; patients with nr-axSpA had a smaller treatment effect. Baseline disease characteristics and age were associated with partial remission with IFX therapy.

Association between serum dickkopf-1 levels and disease duration in axial spondyloarthritis

BackgroundAxial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is characterized by new bone formation. The complex systems underlying this process involve Wnt-signaling pathway. It has been observed that serum levels of dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), an important inhibitor of Wnt-signaling, are decreased in patients with axSpA. However, these data are from studies including only patients with long-standing disease.The aim of this study is to investigate if symptom duration influences on serum DKK-1 levels in patients with axSpA. Material and methodsA cross-sectional study including consecutive patients with axSpA (ASAS criteria) naïve for anti-TNF therapy. Collected data included demographic and disease characteristics, time since first symptom onset, assessment of disease activity and function, and determination of DKK-1 serum levels. Patients were classified as early axSpA (symptom duration ≤5 years) and established axSpA (>5 years). Linear regression models were employed to investigate the variables related to DKK-1 serum levels. ResultsIn total, 90 patients were included. Sixty-eight patients had early axSpA and 22 had established disease. Serum levels of DKK-1 were significantly higher in patients with early axSpA compared with established axSpA (22.1±12.6 vs 16.4±10.7pM; p=0.04). Among all tested variables, only symptom duration was significantly and inversely correlated with DKK-1 serum levels (beta: −0.041; p=0.01). ConclusionSerum DKK-1 levels in axSpA depend on disease duration. As disease duration increases, DKK-1 serum levels decrease. Based on this, an intensive treatment at early stages of the disease could have a better outcome on inhibiting/slowing radiographic progression in patients with axSpA.

Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in early axial spondyloarthritis in daily practice: Data from the DESIR cohort

ObjectivesNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are the cornerstone of treatment in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). We aimed to describe the real life NSAID use in early axSpA according to the disease characteristics. MethodsThe DESIR cohort is an observational study of patients presenting with inflammatory back pain suggestive of axSpA for less than 3 years. Patients who attended all 6 visits (every 6 months during the first 2 years and yearly at 3 years) were analysed. Data collected at every visit over 3 years was NSAID intake and the ASAS-NSAID score for the 6 months preceding the visit, where 100 reflects the full daily intake of an NSAID. ResultsIn all, 627 patients were assessed: 46.1% males, mean age: 33.7 (standard deviation: 8.7) years, mean symptom duration: 1.5 (0.9) year and mean BASDAI: 44.3 (25.3). Over the 6 months preceding inclusion, 92.8% had received NSAIDs; this proportion significantly decreased over time, to 73% patients after 3 years (P<0.001). This decrease was not different with regard to the fulfillment (or not) of the ASAS criteria at baseline, nor with regard to the “arm” of the ASAS criteria fulfilled (i.e. imaging vs. clinical). The median ASAS-NSAID score was 36 [interquartile range: 13–72] at inclusion, and substantially decreased to reach 7 [0–44] after 3 years (P<0.001), although BASDAI at 3 years was 33.8 (21.7). ConclusionNSAID prescription was very frequent in this early axSpA cohort, but the intake was low, and decreased significantly over time, even though symptoms remained present. Early axSpA patients may not be sufficiently treated with NSAIDs.

High disease activity according to the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score is associated with accelerated radiographic spinal progression in patients with early axial spondyloarthritis: results from the GErman SPondyloarthritis Inception Cohort

ObjectiveThe aim of this work was to investigate the association between disease activity measured by the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) and radiographic spinal progression in patients with early...

DOES BONE MINERAL DENSITY CHANGE IN EARLY AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS?

The rate of osteoporosis (OP) and the mechanism of its development in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and other spondyloarthrititides (SpA) have not been sufficiently investigated. Steady-state inflammatory disease activity is anticipated to be the leading factor of OP in AS. Objective: to investigate lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with early axial SpA (axSpA) and to reveal its association with inflammatory disease activity. Subjects and methods. A total of 150 patients (59 men and 91 women) aged 18 to 45 years with inflammatory back pain for ≥3 months and ≤5 years were examined. The diagnosis of axSpA was established in accordance with the 2009 ASAS criteria. BASDAI and ASDAS-CRP were used to assess activity and functional status was evaluated with BASFI. The examination included determination of HLA-B27, X-ray of the pelvis and LS, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sacroiliac joints, LS, and hip joints (in the presence of clinical signs of their involvement), and densitometry of LS (LI–IV) and FN. By taking into account the patients’ young age, the Z score was used to estimate BMD. The Z-score -2 SD or lower in at the least one of the regions examined is considered to be diminished BMD. Results and discussion. The median Z-score was -0.7 [-1.3; -0.2] SD for FN and -0.9 [-1.6; -0.6] SD for LS. Reduced BMD in at the least one of the regions examined was diagnosed in 27 (18.0%) patients. There was lower BMD in LS in 21 (14.0%) patients and in FN in 8 (5.3%). Two (1.3%) patients were diagnosed as having osteopenia in the two examined regions. There was no association between diminished BMD and age, gender, disease activity assessed with BASDAI, ASDAS-СRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). An association was found between inflammatory LS changes, as evidenced by MRI (MRI spondylitis), and reduced BMD in at least one of the examined regions. MRI spondylitis was detected in 27 (18.0%) patients. Decreased BMD in any of the examined skeletal regions was seen in 9 (33.3%) of the 27 patients having MRI spondylitis; the remaining 18 (66.7%) patients had normal BMD values. In the absence of MRI spondylitis, osteopenia was identified in 18 (14.6%) patients; normal BMD values were noted in 105 (85.4%); p = 0.03). There was also a relationship between the presence of MRI spondylitis and diminished BMD in the same region. LS osteopenia was found in 7 (25.9%) patients with MRI spondylitis and LS BMD remained within the normal range in 20 (74.1%). In the absence of MRI spondylitis, LS osteopenia was observed in 14 (11.4%) patients and LS BMD was normal in 109 (88.6%) (p < 0.05). Conclusion. There was an association between inflammatory LS changes, as evidenced by MRI, and reduced BMD in the same region. Our findings confirm the hypothesis that bone mass loss in the vertebral bodies in early axSpA results from local inflammation.

Fatigue in early axial spondyloarthritis. Results from the French DESIR cohort

IntroductionFatigue is frequent in long-standing axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA); its frequency in early axSpA and its causes are unclear. The objective was to evaluate the magnitude of fatigue in early axSpA and to assess if fatigue appeared more strongly associated with patient- or with disease-related characteristics. MethodsPatients were assessed in DESIR, a national observational cohort of patients with recent (<3 years duration) inflammatory back pain suggestive of axSpA. Magnitude of fatigue was assessed by a numeric rating scale (0–10) over one year. Factors associated with high fatigue (≥5/10) at 12 months were assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression, for patients fulfilling the ASAS axSpA criteria. ResultsOf the 708 patients, 486 fulfilled the ASAS criteria for axSpA: mean age 33±9 years; 244 (50%) males. Magnitude of fatigue was high at baseline (mean fatigue: 5.7±2.3) and decreased only slightly over the first year, and was overlapping in patients fulfilling the ASAS criteria or not. High fatigue at 12 months was well explained (variance explained: 0.84) by a higher ASDAS-CRP (odds ratio [OR]: 3.05 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.27–4.12], P<0.0001), higher Bath Anylosing Spondylitis Patient Global (BAS-G) (OR: 3.51 [95% CI, 2.08–6.02], P<0.0001) and with borderline significance, female gender (OR: 1.65 [95% CI, 1.00–2.71], P=0.049). ConclusionFatigue levels were high in this population, both for patients fulfilling or not, the ASAS criteria for axSpA. High fatigue was closely related to disease-related variables, indicating fatigue may be an integral part of the disease process in axSpA.

Evaluation of physiotherapy in a prospective cohort of early axial spondyloarthritis. Data from the DESIR cohort

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of physiotherapy on functional limitation in an observational cohort of early axial spondyloarthritis. MethodsDesign: prospective population-based cohort study. Patients: 708 patients with early axial spondyloarthritis between 2007 and 2010 naive of TNF blockers. Intervention: early physiotherapy defined by at least eight supervised sessions of physical therapy during the first six months. Measurements: the primary outcome was functional improvement defined by a relative improvement of at least 20% in BASFI at six months. Secondary outcomes were improvement in BASFI at one and two years and ASAS20 response criteria at six months. Statistical analysis: a propensity score of having physiotherapy was developed and multivariate analysis using propensity score weighting were used to assess the effect of physiotherapy on outcome. ResultsOverall, 166 (24%) patients had physiotherapy during the first six months. After using propensity score weighting, there was no functional improvement on the primary outcome in patients treated with early physical therapy (relative risk [IC95%]: 1.15 [0.91–1.45]). No differences were observed on secondary outcomes (relative risk [IC95%]: 0.94 [0.80–1.11]). ConclusionsIt seems there is no functional benefit for patients with early spondyloarthritis to be treated early by physiotherapy in daily practice, even though the efficacy of physiotherapy has been shown in several randomized controlled studies.

Patient-physician discordance in global assessment in early spondyloarthritis and its change over time: the DESIR cohort

ObjectiveTo assess patient-physician discordance in global assessment of disease activity in early axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) over time and determinants of discordance.MethodsDESIR (Devenir des Spondyloarthropathies Indifférenciées Récentes) is a French, multicentre,...

Bone loss in patients with early inflammatory back pain suggestive of spondyloarthritis: results from the prospective DESIR cohort

The objectives of the study were to assess the 2 year BMD changes and their determinants in patients with early inflammatory back pain suggestive of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) (DESIR cohort). A total of 265 patients (54% male, mean age 34.4 years) had BMD measurements at baseline and at 2 years. Low BMD was defined as a Z score ≤-2 (at at least one site) and significant bone loss was defined by a decrease in BMD ≥0.03 g/cm(2). Clinical, biological and imaging parameters were assessed over 2 years. Thirty-nine patients (14.7%) had low BMD at baseline; 112 patients (42.3%) had a 2 year significant bone loss. One hundred and eighty-seven (70.6%) used NSAIDs at baseline and 89 (33.6%) received anti-TNF therapy over 2 years. In anti-TNF users, BMD significantly increased at the lumbar spine and did not change at the hip site from baseline. In multivariate analysis, baseline use of NSAIDs [odds ratio (OR) 0.38, P = 0.006] had a protective effect on hip bone loss. In patients without anti-TNF treatments, baseline use of NSAIDs (OR 0.09, P = 0.006) and a 2 year increase in BMI (OR 0.55, P = 0.003) had protective effects on hip bone loss, whereas a 2 year increase in fat mass was associated with hip bone loss (OR 1.18, P = 0.046). Among patients with symptoms suggestive of early axial SpA, 42.3% of patients have significant bone loss over 2 years. Anti-TNF therapy is protective against bone loss and baseline use of NSAIDs has a protective effect on hip bone loss.

Inflammatory and fatty lesions in the spine and sacroiliac joints on whole-body MRI in early axial spondyloarthritis--3-Year data of the ESTHER trial.

To assess the relationship between active inflammation and development of chronic lesions in the spine and sacroiliac (SI)-joints on MRI in early axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) during treatment with etanercept. Here, we analyzed the 41 patients of the ESTHER trial, who were treated with etanercept over 3 continuous years and of whom MRIs were available for baseline, year 2, and year 3. MRIs were scored for active inflammation (STIR sequences) and chronic changes (T1 sequence) such as fatty lesions, erosions, and ankylosis in the SI joints and spinal vertebral units (VUs). The mean fatty lesion scores increased between baseline and year 2 both in the spine (1.13 at baseline vs. 1.40 at year 2, p = 0.0254) and in the SI joints (4.76 at baseline vs. 5.46 at year 2, p = 0.27), but we found no further increase of the fatty lesion score between years 2 and 3. New fatty lesions at years 2 and 3 developed nearly exclusively in SI joint quadrants and VUs in which active MRI inflammation was present at baseline. Fatty lesions disappeared only in 3 SI joint quadrants and in none of VUs at years 2 and 3. Erosion and ankylosis scores remained unchanged. Our data indicate a relationship between the presence of active MRI inflammation and the new development of fatty lesions. Furthermore, there was no increase of fatty lesions during continuous treatment of axial SpA patients with etanercept after successful suppression of active inflammation. Whether this is predictive of stopping radiographic progression needs to be further investigated.

Cardiovascular and selected comorbidities in early arthritis and early spondyloarthritis, a comparative study: results from the ESPOIR and DESIR cohorts

ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of comorbidities in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and early axial spondyloarthritis (ESpA) versus the general population.MethodsBaseline data of 689 patients with ERA from the Etude et...

Increase in Dickkopf-1 Serum Level in Recent Spondyloarthritis. Data from the DESIR Cohort.

ObjectivesTo investigate DKK-1 and SOST serum levels among patients with recent inflammatory back pain (IBP) fulfilling ASAS criteria for SpA and associated factors.MethodsThe DESIR cohort is a prospective, multicenter French cohort of 708 patients with early IBP (duration >3 months and <3 years) suggestive of AxSpA. DKK-1 and SOST serum levels were assessed at baseline and were compared between the subgroup of patients fulfilling ASAS criteria for SpA (n = 486; 68.6%) and 80 healthy controls.ResultsMean SOST serum levels were lower in ASAS+ patients than healthy controls (49.21 ± 25.9 vs. 87.8 ± 26 pmol/L; p<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, age (p = 5.4 10−9), CRP level (p<0.0001) and serum DKK-1 level (p = 0.001) were associated with SOST level. Mean DKK-1 serum levels were higher in axial SpA patients than controls (30.03 ± 15.5 vs. 11.6 ± 4.2 pmol/L; p<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, DKK-1 serum levels were associated with male gender (p = 0.03), CRP level (p = 0.006), SOST serum level (p = 0.002) and presence of sacroiliitis on radiography (p = 0.05). Genetic association testing of 10 SNPs encompassing the DKK-1 locus failed to demonstrate a significant contribution of genetics to control of DKK-1 serum levels.ConclusionsDKK-1 serum levels were increased and SOST levels were decreased among a large cohort of patients with early axial SpA compared to healthy controls. DKK-1 serum levels were mostly associated with biological inflammation and SOST serum levels.

Brief Report: Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drug-Sparing Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors in Early Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From the DESIR Cohort.

To evaluate the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors on nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) intake in a cohort of patients with early axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) over the first 2 years of followup. The Devenir des Spondylarthropathies Indifférenciées Récentes (DESIR) cohort is a prospective, multicenter, observational study cohort of patients with early inflammatory back pain. The management and treatment of these patients were decided by their treating rheumatologists. Data regarding NSAID intake (yes/no) and the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society NSAID score were collected at each visit over 2 years of followup. Patients receiving a TNF inhibitor were matched with those receiving usual care, based on a propensity score. The NSAID-sparing effect of TNF inhibitors was estimated by comparing the percentage of patients reaching several end points (e.g., a decrease in the NSAID score to <10 over 2 years) and by modeling NSAID intake using mixed models. Among the 627 patients who were followed up, 181 (28.9%) received a TNF inhibitor, and these patients were matched to 181 patients who received usual care. The baseline characteristics of the patients in the 2 groups were comparable (∼40% of the patients were male, and the mean age was 34 years). Initially, 90.2% of patients receiving TNF inhibitors and 90.0% of those receiving usual care had been treated with NSAIDs during the previous 6 months. The number of patients who received an NSAID decreased over time in both groups, but the decrease was greater in the group receiving TNF inhibitors (P = 0.04). The decrease in the median NSAID score was significantly greater in the TNF inhibitor group (54.9 versus 41.9), and the percentage of patients in whom the NSAID score decreased by >50% or to <10 or in whom NSAID treatment was discontinued was greater in the TNF inhibitor group (67.6% versus 46.2%). Treatment with TNF inhibitors was associated with a decrease in the proportion of patients taking NSAIDs and with a rapid and sustained decrease in NSAID intake. This study is the first to confirm the NSAID-sparing effect of TNF inhibitors in patients with early axial SpA in a real-life clinical setting.

Brief Report: Clinical Course Over Two Years in Patients With Early Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis and Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis Not Treated With Tumor Necrosis Factor Blockers: Results From the German Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort.

To investigate the clinical course of disease over 2 years in patients with nonradiographic axial spondylarthritis (SpA) and patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The study group comprised 303 patients with axial SpA (158 patients with AS and a symptom duration of ≤10 years and 145 patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and a symptom duration of ≤5 years) who did not receive tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers during 2 years of followup. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) did not differ between patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and those with AS at any time point during followup. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index was significantly higher in patients with AS at baseline only, but spinal mobility was generally better in patients with nonradiographic SpA compared with those with AS. At all time points, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher in patients with AS compared with patients with nonradiographic axial SpA. Accordingly, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) was significantly higher in the patients with AS at 2 of 4 time points. When patients with a BASDAI score of ≥4 plus an elevated CRP level at baseline were analyzed over time, there were no significant differences in the proportions of patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and those with AS who reached low disease activity status at ≥2 time points during 2 years of followup when a clinical definition of low disease activity was used (38% and 35%, respectively, achieved a BASDAI score of <4, and 13% and 15%, respectively, achieved a score of ≤2). When definitions that included the CRP level were used, however, a greater percentage of patients with nonradiographic axial SpA achieved low disease activity (25% of patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and 10% of patients with AS achieved a BASDAI score of <4 and a normal CRP level, and 13% of patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and 3% of those with AS achieved ASDAS-defined low disease activity). Patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and those with AS who were not treated with TNF blockers demonstrated a similar clinical disease course over 2 years. Patients with nonradiographic axial SpA achieved a status of low disease activity more frequently than those with AS if outcome parameters that included the CRP level were used.