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Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in Tunisia: main characteristics and detailed comparison with ankylosing spondylitis

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Abstract

Objectives

The aim of the present study is to compare the clinical features, disease activity, and physical impairment between non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in Tunisian patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective study conducted in a single rheumatology center in Tunisia. Patients with axial spondyloarthritis fulfilling the 2009 ASAS criteria were included. The various spondyloarthritis-related variables were compared between non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. p Values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Among 200 patients with axial spondyloarthritis, 40 had non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and 160 had ankylosing spondylitis. The non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients were more frequently female, were younger, and had shorter disease duration. Patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis experienced enthesitis more frequently compared with ankylosing spondylitis patients. Psoriasis was more frequent in non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis group, while inflammatory bowel disease was more frequent in ankylosing spondylitis group. The C-reactive protein level and functional score were significantly higher in patients with ankylosing spondylitis compared with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors were offered significantly more often to the ankylosing spondylitis group. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in other spondyloarthritis parameters.

Conclusion

The non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis is characterized mainly by a marked female prevalence, a higher enthesitis prevalence, and a better physical function.

Key points:

• Patients with nr-axSpA in Tunisia are more frequently female and have shorter disease duration compared with those with AS.

• Peripheral manifestations were similar between nr-axSpA and AS patients except for enthesitis which were more frequent within nr-axSpA patients.

• The disease activity is similar between the 2 groups of axSpA but the physical function is better within nr-axSpA patients.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge the help provided by Dr Rabie Razgallah, Statistician, Department of Community Medicine, Ibn El Jazzar Medical Faculty of Sousse, Tunisia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology Department, Mongi Slim Hospital, La Marsa, Tunisia

    Kawther Ben Abdelghani, Yosra Gzam, Alia Fazaa, Saoussen Miladi, Meriem Sellami, Leila Souabni, Selma Kassab, Selma Chekili, Leith Zakraoui & Ahmed Laater

  2. Faculty of Medecine, University of Tunis el Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

    Kawther Ben Abdelghani, Yosra Gzam, Alia Fazaa, Saoussen Miladi, Meriem Sellami, Leila Souabni, Selma Kassab, Selma Chekili, Leith Zakraoui & Ahmed Laater

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  1. Kawther Ben Abdelghani
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  2. Yosra Gzam
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Correspondence to Yosra Gzam.

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Ben Abdelghani, K., Gzam, Y., Fazaa, A. et al. Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in Tunisia: main characteristics and detailed comparison with ankylosing spondylitis. Clin Rheumatol 40, 1361–1367 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-020-05415-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-020-05415-7

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