Back pain: It’s something that can have many causes. And tracking down that cause can be difficult.
What do you do if traditional treatments don’t work? What if the pain lingers for months — or even years? It’s time to consider screening for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).
Diagnose axSpA with confidence — take advantage of high-quality educational content produced by experts in the field.
Introducing six on-demand presentations developed and presented by leading rheumatologists specializing in axSpA.
Learn the fundamentals of this condition
Why accurate history taking and thorough physical exams are critical
Is it axSpA or something else? Practice differential diagnosis and learn to distinguish axSpA from mimics
See how axSpA differs from other conditions
The role of imaging in axSpA diagnoses
Whether you’re a primary care physician or a rheumatologist, knowledge is power. And knowing what to look for in patients with lingering back pain is critical for diagnosis.
While inflammatory back pain and stiffness are hallmark symptoms of axSpA, the neck, shoulders, ribs, hips, knees, and heels can also be involved. Some may experience arthritis in joints of the arms and legs. Psoriasis, iritis/uveitis, enthesitis, intestinal pain and inflammation, and dactylitis can also occur.
Despite lack of awareness among the general public, axSpA is not rare; more than 3 million Americans have it. And on average, axial spondyloarthritis patients face a diagnostic delay of 7-10 years!
AS and nr-axSpA can be thought of as two ends of the spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis, and present with many of the same symptoms.
Women tend to experience more neck and peripheral pain (e.g., hips, shoulders, knees, heels), compared to men, who mainly tend to feel lower back pain.
The HLA-B27 genetic marker is closely associated with axial spondyloarthritis. In the U.S., the gene is found in about 85% of Caucasians and Hispanics with axSpA, and in about 60% of African Americans with axSpA. In the general population, however, the gene is found in only 7.6% of Caucasians, 4.5% of Hispanics, and 1% of African Americans. As such, the HLA-B27 gene can be a helpful clue when considering an axSpA diagnosis.
With your help, we can shorten the diagnostic delay and improve axSpA disease outcomes. We know that timely diagnosis and proper interventions can make all the difference. Here, you’ll find a collection of resources to help you better identify and manage axSpA in your patients.
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