Ann. rheum. dis; 82 (1), 2023
Publication year: 2023
To update the Assessment of
SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS)-EULAR
recommendations for the management of axial
spondyloarthritis (axSpA).
Following the EULAR Standardised Operating
Procedures, two systematic literature reviews were
conducted on non-pharmacological and pharmacological
treatment of axSpA. In a task force meeting, the evidence
was presented, discussed, and overarching principles and
recommendations were updated, followed by voting.
Five overarching principles and 15
recommendations with a focus on personalised
medicine were agreed:
eight remained unchanged
from the previous recommendations; three with minor
edits on nomenclature; two with relevant updates
(#9, 12); two newly formulated (#10, 11). The first
five recommendations focus on treatment target and
monitoring, non-pharmacological management and
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as firstchoice pharmacological treatment. Recommendations
6–8 deal with analgesics and discourage long-term
glucocorticoids and conventional synthetic diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for pure axial
involvement. Recommendation 9 describes the indication
of biological DMARDs (bDMARDs, that is, tumour
necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), interleukin-17 inhibitors
(IL-17i)) and targeted synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARDs, ie,
Janus kinase inhibitors) for patients who have Ankylosing
Spondylitis Disease Activity Score ≥2.1 and failed ≥2
NSAIDs and also have either elevated C reactive protein,
MRI inflammation of sacroiliac joints or radiographic
sacroiliitis. Current practice is to start a TNFi or IL-17i.
Recommendation 10 addresses extramusculoskeletal
manifestations with TNF monoclonal antibodies preferred
for recurrent uveitis or inflammatory bowel disease,
and IL-17i for significant psoriasis. Treatment failure
should prompt re-evaluation of the diagnosis and
consideration of the presence of comorbidities (#11).
If active axSpA is confirmed, switching to another b/
tsDMARD is recommended (#12). Tapering, rather
than immediate discontinuation of a bDMARD, can be
considered in patients in sustained remission (#13). The
last recommendations (#14, 15) deal with surgery and
spinal fractures.
The 2022 ASAS-EULAR recommendations
provide up-to-date guidance on the management of
patients with axSpA.