One year in review 2021: axial spondyloarthritis

Abstract

Axial spondyloarthritides (axSpA) are a group of systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations and typical imaging features, rarely accompanied by laboratory abnormalities. They can be classified into a so-called non-radiographic form (nr-axSpA), unlike the radiographic one, because magnetic resonance imaging may show specific inflammatory lesions when conventional radiology is not able to highlight them. Inflammatory involvement of the axial skeleton tends to associate typically with new bone formation and peripheral joints may also be affected. Patients with axSpA are at higher risk of developing some typical extraarticular manifestations, particularly, acute anterior uveitis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease. In this paper we review the literature on axSpA of 2019 and 2020 (Medline search of articles published from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2020).