Early Bone Changes Occurring in Axial Spondyloarthritis

In a study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy, researchers used a cohort of patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) to define the early bone changes occurring in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and to define potential factors for deterioration of bone microstructure. 

Cortical bone loss is an early feature of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis https://t.co/JipPSpUNeW #rheum #arthritis pic.twitter.com/tf6QERPTUY

— ArthritisResTher (@ArthritisRes) August 31, 2018

For the study, 107 patients with axSpA and 50 healthy control subjects were used. All participants of the study (who were of similar age, sex, and body mass index), were assessed for geometric, volumetric, and microstructural parameters of bone using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) at the radius. The results of the study showed that the geometric and microstructural analysis by HR-pQCT revealed a significantly reduced cortical area (p = 0.022) and cortical thickness (p = 0.006) in patients with nr-axSpA, compared with control subjects. 

#CorticalBoneLoss is an early feature of nonradiographic axial #Spondyloarthritis
https://t.co/VkglSPfUiE #FOAMed #ECM

— ECM Fisioterapisti (@1Fisioterapisti) September 4, 2018

“Bone microstructure in patients with nr-axSpA is characterized primarily by deterioration of cortical bone. Cortical bone loss starts early and is evident within the first 2 years of the disease,” the researchers concluded. 

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SOURCE: Arthritis Research & Therapy