Associations between syndesmophytes and facet joint ankylosis in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients on low-dose CT over 2 years.

Objectives: In radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA), spinal damage manifests as syndesmophytes and facet joint ankylosis (FJA). We evaluated whether the presence of one lesion increased the risk of the other lesion.

Methods: Patients with r-axSpA underwent low-dose CT (ldCT) and MRI of the whole spine at baseline and 2 years.

Age at onset in axial spondyloarthritis around the world: data from the Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society Peripheral Involvement in Spondyloarthritis study.

Objective: Age at onset is useful in identifying chronic back patients at an increased risk of axial SpA (axSpA). However, the majority of data on which the criterion of age at onset <45 years is based originates from Europe. Therefore it is unknown if this criterion applies in other parts of the world.

Does HLA-B*2706 protect against ankylosing spondylitis? A meta-analysis.

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*2706 is a relatively rare subtype of HLA-B27. In contrast to most HLA-B27 subtypes, some studies have reported HLA-B*2706 to be protective against ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A systematic review and a meta-analysis of available studies was performed to investigate the association of HLA-B*2706 with AS.