Ankylosing Spondylitis

Sclerostin in ankylosing spondylitis: A meta-analysis.

Jiang LW, Yuan ML, Jiang LN, Xia AX, Chen JQ, Li YP · Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry · 2025

This study aims to assess circulating sclerostin levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The databases of PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Wanfang Med Online Database (Wanfang), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) were used to collect all relevant published articles (up to 26 August 2024). The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated by the random-effect model. A total of 22 studies were included, including 1354 AS patients and 871 normal controls. There was no significant difference in the circulating sclerostin levels between AS patients and normal controls (SMD = -0.03, 95%CI = -0.51 to 0.46, P = 0.92). Subgroup analysis showed that the South America group, the Africa group, cohort study group, bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) s

Efficacy and safety of mind-body exercise for patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Wang J, Li X, Yang F, Guo P, Ren C, Duan Z · Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2024

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mind-body exercise (MBE) interventions, including Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, and Qigong, in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Eight electronic databases were searched from their inception to May 2024. RevMan 5.4 and Stata 16.0 software were used for statistical analysis. Outcome measures included Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) Scale, and adverse events. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias (RoB) tool (2.0). The certainty of evidence for each outcome was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Of the 330 studies retrieved, 15 studies satisfied the criteri

Risk of Cancer Recurrence in Patients With Immune-Mediated Diseases With Use of Immunosuppressive Therapies: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Gupta A, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Ananthakrishnan AN · Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association · 2024

There are limited data on the safety of immunosuppressive therapy use in individuals with immune-mediated diseases with a history of malignancy, particularly with newer biologic and small-molecule treatments. We performed a systematic search of PubMed and Embase databases to identify studies examining the impact of immunosuppressive therapies on cancer recurrence across several immune-mediated diseases. Studies were pooled together using random-effects meta-analysis and stratified by type of treatment. Primary outcome was occurrence of incident cancers, defined as new or recurrent. Our meta-analysis included 31 studies (17 inflammatory bowel disease, 14 rheumatoid arthritis, 2 psoriasis, and 1 ankylosing spondylitis) contributing 24,328 persons and 85,784 person-years (p-y) of follow-up evaluation. Rates of cancer recurrence were similar among individuals not on immunosuppression (IS) (1627 incident cancers, 43,765 p-y; 35 per 1000 p-y; 95% CI, 27-43), receiving an anti-tumor necrosi

Acupuncture therapy in autoimmune diseases: A narrative review.

Gamus D, Shoenfeld Y · Autoimmunity reviews · 2025

We provide a narrative review of experimental and clinical evidence for the effect of acupuncture in autoimmune diseases, based on randomized controlled studies, systematic review and meta-analyses, published between the years 2000-2023. Acupuncture in experimental models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis (UC) downregulated inflammatory cytokine expression, increased IL-10 expression, improved Treg cell differentiation, and also modulated macrophage polarization in RA and UC models. The anti-inflammatory effect of acupuncture in autoimmune disorders has been demonstrated to involve vagal-adrenal and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathways. The analgesic effect of acupuncture involves both peripheral and central anti-nociceptive mechanisms. Randomized controlled studies support the use of acupuncture in rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease and in Sjogren's syndrome. Some evidence indicates that acupuncture may be beneficial as

Yoga in autoimmune disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Baishya A, Sharma S, Hazarika D, Saini S, Sharma H, Metri K · Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine · 2025 · n=960

Yoga, a mind-body therapy, is widely utilized for managing health outcomes in autoimmune disorders (ADs). Despite its extensive use, no systematic review has been conducted to assess the impact of yoga on ADs. The objective was to evaluate the evidence of yoga on health outcomes in ADs based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A comprehensive search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, and PsycINFO from January 2000 to June 2024, as well as relevant reference lists. RCTs evaluating the efficacy of yoga-based interventions with at least 8 weeks duration in the 5 most commonly studied ADs-multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and autoimmune periodontitis-were included. The methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Vote counting based on the direction of effect was used to determine effectiveness. Twenty-six RCTs involving 1,960 patients with intervention durations

Mendelian randomization studies in ankylosing spondylitis: A systematic review.

Wei J, Zhu X, Wang J, Yang K, Chen J, Li J · International journal of rheumatic diseases · 2024

Previous research has revealed connections between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and comorbid conditions. However, observational studies frequently encounter difficulties in establishing definitive causal links between potential risk factors and AS. In contrast, Mendelian randomization (MR) offers a more robust approach to exploring causality by leveraging the random allocation of alleles at birth, thereby minimizing confounding factors. The PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched for MR studies related to AS with a time frame of database creation to May 2024. Information on authors, exposures, outcomes, data sources, SNPs, MR analysis methods, ORs (95% CIs), and p-values was extracted. Quality assessment was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist. We systematically reviewed 42 MR studies in AS. Health behaviors, comorbidities, and serum markers were involved. Overall, physical activity, inflammatory bowel disease, and specific intes

Ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: assessing and managing

NICE

This NICE quality standard covers assessing and managing ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. It aims to improve the quality of care for people with these conditions.

Ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: diagnosis and management

NICE

This guideline covers diagnosing and managing ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in adults. It aims to improve early diagnosis and optimize treatment to reduce pain and disability.

Efficacy and Safety of Ivarmacitinib, a Selective JAK1 Inhibitor, in Patients With Active Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results From an Adaptive Seamless Phase 2/3 Trial.

Liu X, Xu L, Zhao C, Liu S, Sun L, Yang L · Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2025 · n=187

This randomized, double-blind, adaptive phase 2/3 trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ivarmacitinib, a novel selective JAK1 inhibitor, in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In phase 2, patients were randomized (1:1:1:1) to receive ivarmacitinib at a dose of 2, 4, or 8 mg or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. Based on interim analysis, ivarmacitinib 4 mg was selected as the recommended dose. In phase 3, patients were randomized (1:1) to receive ivarmacitinib 4 mg or placebo for 12 weeks; from week 12 onward, all patients received ivarmacitinib 4 mg once daily through week 24. The primary end point was the proportion of patients achieving a ≥20% improvement in the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS20) response criteria at week 12. During the entire study, 504 patients were randomized (ivarmacitinib 4 mg, n = 187; placebo, n = 186). At week 12, the ASAS20 response rate was significantly higher in the ivarmacitinib 4 mg group co

Integrated safety analysis of tofacitinib from Phase 2 and 3 trials of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Deodhar A, Akar S, Curtis JR, El-Zorkany B, Magrey M, Wang C · Advances in rheumatology (London, England) · 2024

Describe tofacitinib safety from an integrated analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Pooled data from Phase 2 (NCT01786668; 04/2013-03/2015)/Phase 3 (NCT03502616; 06/2018-08/2020) RCTs in AS patients were analyzed (3 overlapping cohorts): 16-week placebo-controlled (tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily [BID] [n = 185]; placebo [n = 187]); 48-week only-tofacitinib 5 mg BID (n = 316); 48-week all-tofacitinib (≥ 1 dose of tofacitinib 2, 5, or 10 mg BID; n = 420). Baseline 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk was determined in patients without history of ASCVD (48-week cohorts). Adverse events (AEs)/AEs of special interest were evaluated/compared with findings from other tofacitinib programs (16 Phase 2/Phase 3 rheumatoid arthritis [RA]; 2 Phase 3 psoriatic arthritis [PsA] RCTs) and a real-world cohort of AS patients initiating biologi

Characterization of immune features and discovery of potential biomarkers for ankylosing spondylitis using deep plasma proteomics.

Xu X, Liu W, Pang B, Wang Y, Zhen H, Jiang Q · Journal of advanced research · 2026 · n=104

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic inflammatory disorder that predominantly involves the axial skeleton, often leading to irreversible structural damage and disability. Although several therapeutic measurements are available, limitations in efficacy and long-term outcomes remain significant. Therefore, identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets is of critical importance for optimizing clinical management and prognostic evaluation in AS patients. This study aims to elucidate the immune features and discover potential biomarkers for AS by the integration of deep plasma proteomics and deep learning strategies. The deep quantitative proteomics was applied to analyze the plasma samples from 104 participants of AS patients with active and stable stages, along with healthy controls. The immune and functional features of AS patients in different stages were assessed. By integrating random forest (RF) with orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), a ma

Tele-Rehabilitation in Ankylosing Spondylitis: Current Evidence and Future Directions in Remote Physiotherapy.

Gakhar H, Khurana K, Kataria DC · Musculoskeletal care · 2025

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory condition that primarily affects the axial skeleton, leading to pain, stiffness, and functional limitations. While physiotherapy plays a critical role in the management of AS, access to in-person services remains limited, particularly in rural or underserved areas. This narrative review aims to synthesise current evidence on the effectiveness and feasibility of tele-rehabilitation for individuals with ankylosing spondylitis and to identify future directions for optimising remote physiotherapy in clinical practice. A comprehensive search was conducted across four major databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies published between 2008 and 2025 were selected using keywords such as ankylosing spondylitis, tele-rehabilitation, remote physiotherapy, and digital health. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and observational studies that evaluated remote ph

Ankylosing spondylitis and kinesiophobia.

Ertem U · PeerJ · 2025

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disease that predominantly affects the axial skeleton, causing pain and functional impairment. Kinesiophobia, or fear of movement, is common in patients with chronic pain conditions and can significantly hinder treatment outcomes. This study aims to assess the level of kinesiophobia in AS patients and explore its relationship with demographic characteristics, disease duration, pain intensity, disease activity, and functional impairment. This single-center study included 35 AS patients from July 2021 to July 2023. Patient demographics, disease duration, disease activity (BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index)), functionality (BASFI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index)), pain intensity (VAS (Visual Analog Scale)), and kinesiophobia (TSK (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia)) were recorded and analyzed. Patients were categorized into low and high kinesiophobia groups based on TSK scores. Of the 35 AS patients, 15

Multiomics Identifies Potential Biomarkers in Ankylosing Spondylitis Bone Formation.

Yang L, Bo C, Chen M, Chen B, Zeng R, Zhou Y · Human mutation · 2025

Objective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a long-term inflammatory condition characterized by intricate pathogenesis and significant genetic predisposition. Current treatment methods cannot completely halt the progression of the disease. The purpose of this research is to discover possible therapeutic targets for AS by integrating Mendelian Randomization (MR), transcriptomics analysis, and machine learning, providing new options for the clinical treatment of AS. Methods: In this study, we initially pinpointed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) linked to AS from the GEO database and acquired cis-eQTL data for these genes from the eQTLGen Consortium. Using MR and summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analyses, we screened for DEGs with causal relationships to AS. Subsequently, we analyzed the correlation between these causal genes and immune cell expression, constructed a risk prediction model, and identified key feature genes for AS. Next, we conducted phenome-wide associa

Ankylosing spondylitis

NHS

The NHS pages offer a detailed overview of ankylosing spondylitis, covering symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and living with the condition. It's a key resource for UK residents seeking health information.

A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Ustekinumab in the Treatment of Subjects With Active Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

n=356 · NCT02407223 · TERMINATED · TERMINATED

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in adult participants with active nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-AxSpA) measured by the reduction in signs and symptoms of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-AxSpA).

Efficacy and Safety of MEthylprednisolone Administered Intravenously for the Treatment of Patients With Active AnkyLosing spondyLitis (METALL) - a 12-week, Prospective, Open-label, Pilot Study

n=20 · NCT01790022 · UNKNOWN · UNKNOWN

In this study, efficacy of methylprednisolone in reduction of signs and symptoms (back pain, stiffness, joint pain and swelling) of active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) will be investigated. It is expected, that a single dose of methylprednisolone 500 mg given intravenously at baseline will lead to a rapid reduction of symptoms of active AS, which can be seen already 2 weeks after drug administration.

Characterizing Spondyloarthritis With 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT

n=50 · NCT05999643 · UNKNOWN · UNKNOWN

To evaluate the potential usefulness of 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT for the diagnosis, inflammation evaluation and prognosis prediction in spondyloarthritis.

Cochrane Reviews related to Ankylosing Spondylitis

Cochrane

The Cochrane Library provides a collection of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on various interventions for ankylosing spondylitis, offering high-quality evidence to inform clinical decisions.

TRIP Database: Ankylosing Spondylitis

TRIP Database · Strength: null

A clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find high-quality research evidence to support their practice, including on ankylosing spondylitis.

TRIP Database - Ankylosing Spondylitis

TRIP Database

A clinical search engine providing fast access to high-quality research evidence, including guidelines, systematic reviews, and primary research, on ankylosing spondylitis.