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Axial Spondyloarthritis

FDA Advisory Panel Strongly Backs Biosimilar Form of Remicade

Reuters Staff  |  

(Reuters)—A medical advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday recommended approval of a cheaper biosimilar form of Johnson & Johnson’s arthritis drug Remicade (infliximab) that could eventually batter sales of the branded product. The panel, by a vote of 21-3, supported use of the biosimilar from Celltrion Inc. and Pfizer Inc.,…

Enthesitis: New Insights into the Pathogenesis, Diagnostic Modalities & Treatment

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Enthesitis is a central feature of spondyloarthritis (SpA). This review article summarizes the substantial progress that has been made in addressing the pathophysiology, molecular mechanisms, genetic associations, clinical features, diagnostic modalities and treatment of enthesitis. Further examination into the role of the inflammatory mediators, including IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 as well as potentially others, in driving enthesitis and bone formation will be important to direct our attention toward future therapeutic targeted pathways in patients with SpA…

The Microbiome’s Role in Inflammatory Arthritis

Arthritis & Rheumatology  |  

Despite the relative novelty of the human microbiome as an area of study, a substantial body of evidence has accumulated addressing its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of rheumatic disease. This review article explores the available data in animal and human studies, focusing on the role of the intestinal microbiome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and the spondyloarthritidies (SpA)…

Bone Loss Common in Suspected Spondyloarthritis

David Douglas  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—More than 40% of patients with early inflammatory back pain suggestive of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) show bone loss over the course of two years, according to French researchers. SpA is known to be associated with bone loss at the spine and the hip and an increased risk of vertebral fractures. To investigate…

Subcutaneous Golimumab in Active Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

Arthritis & Rheumatology  |  

Patients with non-radiographic axSpA experience reduced mobility and quality of life. In this study, researchers investigated the effect of treatment for nr-axSpA every four weeks with SQ golimumab (GLM). Seventy-one percent of patients in the GLM group achieved ASAS 20 response at Week 16, compared with 40.0% in the control group…

ACR’s New AS & Nonradiographic Axial SpA Treatment Recommendations

American College of Rheumatology  |  

ATLANTA—The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has released new recommendations for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA). The guideline was developed with the Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) and the Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network. It summarizes recommendations for both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments, including rehabilitation, management of patients with…

EULAR 2015: Emerging Concepts, Treatments for Axial Spondyloarthritis

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ROME, Italy—When it comes to thinking about disease modification—a main goal in the treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) and other inflammatory diseases—it’s time to reconsider the concept, an expert said at EULAR 2015, the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). The traditional way of assessing disease modification, inhibiting radiographic progression, is…

Odds Ratio Explained for MRI Imaging in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Rajiv K. Dixit, MD  |  

In the lead article, “Imaging in Ankylosing Spondylitis” (The Rheumatologist, April 2015), Dr. Pedersen states, “vertebral edges with MRI inflammation were three times as likely to develop new syndesmophytes than vertebral edges without inflammation (odds ratio [OR] 3.3; 95% CI: 1.5–7.4).” This statement is incorrect. An odds ratio of 3 does not imply that an…