Axial Spondyloarthritis
Living with axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) can create everyday challenges. There are two types. The main type is radiographic axSpA, which includes damage to the joints linking the pelvis and lower spine (the sacroiliac joint) and can be seen on X-rays. This manifestation is also known as ankylosing spondylitis or AS. The second form of axSpa is called nonradiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA) since the disease cannot be diagnosed by X-rays but the inflamed tissues may show up on magnetic resonance images (MRIs).12 Both disease entities may also affect other joints as well as organs.2
Axial Spondyloarthritis is an inflammatory type of arthritis that can cause pain and stiffness. You may not develop all of the main symptoms of AS if you have the condition.234
Symptoms usually involve:
- back pain and stiffness
- pain and swelling in other parts of the body – caused by inflammation of the joints and the tissues around the joints
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
These symptoms tend to develop gradually, usually over several months or years, and may come and go over time.4
It’s important to learn as much as you can about your condition. That includes understanding your symptoms and how AS (or the non-radiographic manifestation) affects your body. Knowing more can help you talk with your doctor about the treatment that’s right for you.
Normally, your immune system works to protect your body from foreign substances like bacteria, viruses, and germs. While the exact cause is unknown, when you have AS, your immune system attacks healthy tissue and cells in your body. That’s why it’s called like rheumatoid arthritis an autoimmune disease.5
What are the symptoms?34
The symptoms of AS vary from one person to another.
Back pain and stiffness are usually the main symptoms of AS. You may find:
- the pain gets better with exercise, but does not improve or gets worse with rest
- the pain and stiffness is worse in the morning and at night – you may wake up regularly during the night because of the pain
- you have pain in the area around your buttocks
Next to symptoms in your back and spine, AS can also cause inflammation of the joints (arthritis) or of the tissue that connect muscles to bones or of the ligaments that connects bones to bones (enthesitis).
Affected may be:
- hips
- knees
- heels
- ribs
The main symptoms associated are:
- pain on moving the affected joint
- tenderness when the affected joint is examined
- swelling and warmth in the affected area
Other conditions
It’s common for people with AS to also have other conditions, including:
- fatigue, making you feel tired and lacking in energy
- iritis, also known as acute anterior uveitis (where the front part of the eye becomes red and swollen)
- psoriasis
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).3
Who gets AS?
In Europe, the prevalence of radiographic axSpA is 0.25 per 100,000 population (95% CI 0.18-0.33).67 In another study reported (worldwide) prevalence is reported as 0.1-1.4%1, which is similar to that of rheumatoid arthritis.8
The true prevalence may be unknown because of the significant delay in diagnosis and underrecognition of the disease, and challenges regarding case ascertainment in epidemiological data sets.79
In many cases, symptoms start between 18 and 40 years of age.349
radiographic axial SpA is about 2 times more common in males than females.1
AS is a chronic (long-term) disease
AS is a chronic, or long-term, disease. The pain and stiffness symptoms can worsen over time.4 That’s why early diagnosis and treatment is important. While there is no cure, there are medicines that can help relieve these symptoms.1234
Talking With Your Doctor
Your doctor needs to know about your symptoms and how they affect your everyday activities. Be open and honest with your doctor about your symptoms.
Here are a few suggestions.
- Write down the symptoms you’ve been having and make note of any new ones. Has anything changed since your last doctor visit?
- Go into detail: If something hurts, describe how bad it is
- Write down how symptoms affect your ability to do everyday activities
- Make a list of the medicines you take, previous medical procedures, and your disease history
Take these notes with you to your next doctor’s appointment. Don’t forget to talk with your doctor about your treatment goals and the types of activities you’d like to get back to doing.
Johnson & Johnson and Axial Spondyloarthritis
Johnson & Johnson is committed to help ease the challenges that people living with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases have to endure for the rest of their lives.
Our goal is to improve the diagnosis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, improve patients’ access to the best possible treatments and continue to provide new and better medicines.
Patient advocacy groups and external sources
This website is developed exclusively by Janssen Pharmaceutica NV. Please note that the patient advocacy groups, and external sources listed below are an additional and independent source of information you might find useful. These groups and sources were not involved in the creation of this website and do not endorse its content in any way.
