Rheumatology
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According to the 2022 ASAS-EULAR treatment recommendations in axSpA, the primary goal of treating patients with axSpA is to maximise health-related quality-of-life through:1

Control of symptoms and inflammation

Prevention of progressive structural damage

Preservation/normalisation of function and social participation

 

 

Achieving early control of inflammation is important for preventing structural damage and EMMs.1–5​

 

Key elements of inflammation control:6

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Early diagnosis and appropriate intervention

 

 

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Set a goal: Remission or low-disease activity states

 

 

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Once in remission, tapering and, in some cases, withdrawal of therapies in the short term*

 

Clinical remission is defined by the absence of clinical and laboratory evidence of ​significant inflammatory disease activity.7​ ASDAS LDA/ID are appropriate targets for low disease activity/remission in clinical practice.1​

In real-world practice, many patients do not achieve these stringent disease activity targets or fail to achieve them for sustained periods.8​

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Adapted from Maksymowych WP et al. Arthritis Res Ther. 2023;25(1):70.​

What is the impact of patients with axSpA achieving ASDAS LDA, and is it a realistic treatment target? ​

 

Explore our resources below to find out the answers to these questions and more today.​

*However, in most cases, disease will recur.6

†Data from the BioTRAC: a multi-centre, prospective registry that collected real-world data on axSpA patients (n=810) receiving infliximab or golimumab between 2006–2017.8​

Abbreviations

ASAS: Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society; ASDAS: Axial Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Score; axSpA: axial spondyloarthritis; BASDAI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BioTRAC: Biologic Treatment Registry Across Canada; EMM: extra-musculoskeletal manifestation; EULAR: European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology; ID: inactive disease; LDA: low disease activity; TNFi: tumour necrosis factor inhibitor.

References

  1. Ramiro S et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82(1):19–34. ​
  2. Dougados M et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(11):1823–1828. ​
  3. Michelena X et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2024;63(2):430–435. ​
  4. Shi LH et al. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2022;14:1759720X221122401. ​
  5. Shi LH et al. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2023;45(1):2205056. ​
  6. McInnes IB Gravallese EM. Nat Rev Immunol. 2021;21(10):680–686. ​
  7. Smolen JS et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014;73(1):6–16. ​

  8. Maksymowych WP et al. Arthritis Res Ther. 2023;25(1):70.​

     

EU-DC-2400159

 

Date of preparation: February 2025