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High prevalence of radiographic vertebral fractures found among patients with ankylosing spondylitis
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Patients with active ankylosing spondylitis had a high prevalence of radiographic vertebral fractures, according to results.
Of 173 patients with ankylosing spondylitis enrolled in the Groningen Leeuwarden Ankylosing Spondylitis cohort, 105 patients received tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blocking therapy for 4 years. The patients had radiographs available at baseline and after 4 years of follow-up, according to researchers.
Results showed 26% of patients had radiographic vertebral fractures at baseline. Researchers noted these patients were significantly older, had larger occiput-to-wall distance and more spinal radiographic damage. At least one new fracture was developed in 20% of patients during 4 years of TNF-α blocking therapy, according to results. Investigators found the development of new fractures was associated with older age, smoking, higher Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, low lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD), the presence of moderate vertebral fractures and use of anti-osteoporotic treatment at baseline. Researchers found most fractures were mild and occurred in the thoracic spine, and patients with new fractures had significantly less improvement in lateral spinal mobility and lumbar spine BMD during treatment.
Fiona Maas
“Clinicians should be aware of vertebral fractures in ankylosing spondylitis since radiographic vertebral fractures are frequently present, associated with worse clinical outcome and also occur during TNF-α blocking therapy,” Fiona Maas, MSc, of the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands, told Healio.com/Rheumatology. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: Maas reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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