Clinical characteristics of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis in Korea: a comparison with ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

The predominance of male patients is more prominent among Korean patients with SpA compared with Caucasians. Female nr-axSpA patients had late symptom onset and less progression to AS. X-ray changes at baseline were associated with radiographic progression.

Consensus statements on the imaging of axial spondyloarthritis in Australia and New Zealand

“…Symptom onset may precede definite sacroiliitis on plain radiography by years, and recollection of symptom duration can be poor. One retrospective cohort study found the mean time between symptom onset and definite AS by the mNY criteria to be 71 months . Three studies examining individuals with symptom duration less than 2 years found definite sacroiliitis present in 27–38% of subjects .…”

“…These studies examined subjects of various ages, but in each the typical study participant was a male with symptom onset less than 2 years, who had their baseline radiography in their early thirties. Other cohorts of early axial SpA also demonstrate a mean age of onset between 30 and 35 years . One of these studies examined subjects with a mean symptom duration of 4 months and found AS by mNY criteria in 27%.…”

“…A German cohort of expert‐diagnosed non‐radiographic axial SpA reported a 10.5% rate of progression to AS after 2 years . An Asian non‐radiographic axial SpA cohort observed that progression from onset of non‐radiographic axial SpA to AS occurred over a mean of 6 years when pelvic radiography was repeated every 2–3 years . In a British non‐radiographic axial SpA cohort (imaging arm), out of 24 subjects none progressed to AS after a mean follow‐up of 7.7 years .…”

“…One retrospective cohort study found the mean time between symptom onset and definite AS by the mNY criteria to be 71 months. 29 Three studies examining individuals with symptom duration less than 2 years found definite sacroiliitis present in 27-38% of subjects. 6,8,30 These studies examined subjects of various ages, but in each the typical study participant was a male with symptom onset less than 2 years, who had their baseline radiography in their early thirties.…”

Evolving “Diagnostic” Criteria for Axial Spondyloarthritis in the Context of Anterior Uveitis

“…Is uveitis as common with nr-Ax-SpA as it is with ankylosing spondylitis? At least two studies indicates that uveitis is as common in non-radiographic disease as it is in ankylosing spondylitis (17, 22). …”