Improved Pain, Morning Stiffness, and Fatigue With Bimekizumab in Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From the Phase III BE MOBILE Studies.

Objective: To assess the effect of bimekizumab on pain, morning stiffness, and fatigue in patients with nonradiographic and radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in the phase III BE MOBILE studies (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03928704 and NCT03928743).

Methods: Patients were randomized to bimekizumab 160 mg or placebo every 4 weeks; and all patients received bimekizumab from week 16.

Clinical information on imaging referrals for suspected or known axial spondyloarthritis: recommendations from the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS).

Objectives: This study aims to establish expert consensus recommendations for clinical information on imaging requests in suspected/known axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), focusing on enhancing diagnostic clarity and patient care through guidelines.

Materials And Methods: A specialised task force was formed, comprising 7 radiologists, 11 rheumatologists from the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) and a patient representative. Using the Delphi method, two rounds of surveys were conducted among ASAS members.

British Axial Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort (BAxSIC): a protocol for a multicentre real-world observational cohort study of early axial spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: Timely diagnosis remains a challenge in axial SpA (axSpA). In addition, data are scarce on the impact of diagnostic delay and disease progression in affected individuals. The British Axial Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort (BAxSIC) study aims to investigate the impact of newly diagnosed axSpA, the natural history of the disease and the effect of diagnostic delay on disease outcomes.

Early psoriatic arthritis: when is the right time to start advanced therapy?

Despite significant advances in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the last two decades, remission remains elusive and there is no cure. Evidence from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) confirming enhanced response and outcome from earlier treatment intervention suggests the plausibility of the window of opportunity in the pathogenesis of RA. Yet, data are lacking in PsA.

PERI-operative biologic DMARD management: Stoppage or COntinuation during orthoPaEdic operations (the PERISCOPE trial) - a study protocol for a pragmatic, UK multicentre, superiority randomised controlled trial with an internal pilot, economic evaluation and nested qualitative study.

Introduction: Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) have revolutionised the treatment of inflammatory arthritis (IA). However, many people with IA still require planned orthopaedic surgery to reduce pain and improve function. Currently, bDMARDs are withheld during the perioperative period due to potential infection risk.

Reporting Sacroiliac Joint Imaging Performed for Known or Suspected Axial Spondyloarthritis: Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Recommendations.

Whereas previous projects attempted to standardize imaging in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), few studies have been published about the need for specific details regarding the image acquisition and lesions that may be less familiar to general radiologists. This work reports consensus recommendations developed by the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) that aim to standardize the imaging reports in patients suspected of having or with known axSpA. A task force consisting of radiologists and rheumatologists from ASAS and one patient representative formulated two surveys that were completed by ASAS members.

MDA5-autoimmunity and interstitial pneumonitis contemporaneous with the COVID-19 pandemic (MIP-C).

Background: Anti-MDA5 (Melanoma differentiation-associated protein-5) positive dermatomyositis (MDA5-DM) is characterised by rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD) and high mortality. MDA5 is an RNA sensor and a key pattern recognition receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of a surge in MDA5 autoimmunity, as determined using a 15 muscle-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) panel, between Janurary 2018 and December 2022 in Yorkshire, UK.

EULAR recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies: 2023 update.

Objective: New modes of action and more data on the efficacy and safety of existing drugs in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) required an update of the EULAR 2019 recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of PsA.

Methods: Following EULAR standardised operating procedures, the process included a systematic literature review and a consensus meeting of 36 international experts in April 2023. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendations were determined.

Power Doppler signal at the enthesis and bone erosions are the most discriminative OMERACT ultrasound lesions for SpA: results from the DEUS (Defining Enthesitis on Ultrasound in Spondyloarthritis) multicentre study.

Objectives: To assess, in spondyloarthritis (SpA), the discriminative value of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) ultrasound lesions of enthesitis and their associations with clinical features in this population.

Methods: In this multicentre study involving 20 rheumatology centres, clinical and ultrasound examinations of the lower limb large entheses were performed in 413 patients with SpA (axial SpA and psoriatic arthritis) and 282 disease controls (osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia). 'Active enthesitis' was defined as (1) power Doppler (PD) at the enthesis grade ≥1 plus entheseal thickening and/or hypoechoic areas, or (2) PD grade >1 (independent of the presence of entheseal thickening and/or hypoechoic areas).

Real-world experience of IL-17Ai drug survival in a large cohort of axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: The aim was to assess the use and drug survival of IL-17Ai in a real-world cohort of axial SpA (axSpA) and PsA patients.

Methods: Patients ever commenced on an IL-17Ai (secukinumab or ixekizumab) for axSpA or PsA at the Leeds Specialist Spondyloarthritis Service were identified. Demographics, IL-17Ai treatment length and reason for cessation were collected.

Long-term safety of Ixekizumab in adults with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or axial spondyloarthritis: a post-hoc analysis of final safety data from 25 randomized clinical trials.

Background: We report long-term, end-of-study program safety outcomes from 25 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in adult patients with psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) [including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)] who received ≥ 1 dose of Ixekizumab (IXE) over 5 years (PsO) or up to 3 years (PsA, axSpA).

Methods: This integrated safety analysis consists of data from patients who received any dose of IXE, across 25 RCTs (17 PsO, 4 PsA, 4 axSpA). Rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), serious adverse events (SAEs) and selected adverse events (AEs) of interest were analyzed for all pooled studies by years of therapy and overall, through March 2022.

Hip and pelvis region MRI reference image atlas for scoring inflammation in peripheral joints and entheses according to the OMERACT-MRI WIPE scoring system in patients with spondyloarthritis.

Objective: To develop a reference image atlas for scoring the hip/pelvis region according to the OMERACT whole-body MRI scoring system for inflammation in peripheral joints and entheses (MRI-WIPE).

Methods: We collected image examples of each pathology, location and grade, discussed them at web-based, interactive meetings and, finally, selected reference images by consensus.

Results: Reference images for each grade and location of osteitis, synovitis and soft tissue inflammation are provided, as are definitions, reader rules and recommended MRI-sequences.

The OMERACT whole-body MRI scoring system for inflammation in peripheral joints and entheses (WIPE) in spondyloarthritis - reference image atlas for the knee region.

Objective: To develop a reference image atlas for the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology whole-body MRI scoring system for inflammation in peripheral joints and entheses (OMERACT MRI-WIPE) of the knee region.

Methods: Image examples of each pathology, location and grade, were collected and discussed at web-based, interactive meetings within the OMERACT MRI in Arthritis Working Group. Subsequently, reference images were selected by consensus.

Thresholds for unacceptable work state in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis of four presenteeism and two clinical outcome measurement instruments.

Objectives: To (i) identify threshold values of presenteeism measurement instruments that reflect unacceptable work state in employed r-axSpA patients; (ii) determine whether those thresholds accurately predict future adverse work outcomes (AWO) (sick leave or short/long-term disability); (iii) evaluate the performance of traditional health-outcomes for r-axSpA; and (iv) explore whether thresholds are stable across contextual factors.

Methods: Data from the multinational AS-PROSE study was used. Thresholds to determine whether patients consider themselves in an 'unacceptable work state' were calculated at baseline for four instruments assessing presenteeism and two health outcomes specific for r-axSpA.

Exploring the unifying concept of spondyloarthritis: a latent class analysis of the REGISPONSER registry.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to identify the potential distinct phenotypes within a broad SpA population.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the REGISPONSER registry, which has data from 31 specialist centres in Spain, including patients with SpA who have fulfilled the ESSG criteria. A latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to identify the latent classes underlying SpA according to a set of predefined clinical and radiographic features, independently of expert opinion.