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.

Objective: 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.

Methods: 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).

Prevention of new osteitis on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with early axial spondyloarthritis during 3 years of continuous treatment with etanercept: data of the ESTHER trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the degree of fluctuation of osteitis on MRI during long-term treatment with etanercept (ETN) in patients with early axial SpA (axSpA) with active inflammation (osteitis) on whole-body MRI in the spine and/or the SI joints at baseline.

Methods: We analysed MRI data from 328 SI joint quadrants and 943 spine vertebral units (VUs) in terms of osteitis in the pooled data set of 41 patients who were treated with ETN for 3 consecutive years. Scoring was performed by two blinded radiologists at baseline, year 2 and year 3.

Consistently Good clinical response in patients with early axial spondyloarthritis after 3 years of continuous treatment with etanercept: longterm data of the ESTHER trial.

Objective: In patients with early active axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) with a disease duration of < 5 years, the longterm efficacy of 3 years of continuous etanercept (ETN) treatment was assessed.

Methods: In a previously reported ESTHER trial, patients with axSpA were randomized to treatment with ETN (n = 40) versus sulfasalazine (SSZ; n = 36) in the first year. We analyzed the clinical, laboratory, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) response in the pooled dataset of patients (study population; n = 61), including patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS, n = 31) and nonradiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA, n = 30) who were continuously treated with ETN for 3 consecutive years.

Similar response rates in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis after 1 year of treatment with etanercept: results from the ESTHER trial.

Objective: We assessed whether there is a difference to etanercept (ETA) treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) compared with non-radiographic axial SpA (nr-axSpA) patients with a disease duration <5 years.

Method: AS (n=20) and nr-axSpA (n=20) patients who were treated with ETA for 1 year were compared for differences in baseline data and treatment effect. Clinical, laboratory and MRI of sacroiliac joints (SI-joints) and spine were analysed.