Axial spondyloarthritis and its subtypes
Axial spondyloarthritis* (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory condition consisting of two subtypes, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). They have shared symptoms, including spinal pain, reduced mobility, and fatigue.
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Signs and symptoms of axSpA include:
- Morning back pain and stiffness
- Spinal inflammation
- Pain in lower back and hips
- Fatigue
- Reduced physical function
- Less mobility
What makes AS and nr-axSpA different from back pain?
- Common back pain is typically caused by injury or overuse and usually goes away after 6 weeks; any longer and it may be something more serious
- AS and nr-axSpA are types of chronic, inflammatory back pain
- AS and nr-axSpA occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joints, mainly in the spine
- Symptoms may last for 3 months or longer, and can flare on and off
- Although AS and nr-axSpA are lifelong conditions, there are many ways to manage them
What makes AS different from nr-axSpA?
Both AS and nr-axSpA, subtypes of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), are chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases that primarily affect the spine with some notable differences:
- With AS, joint damage is clearly visible on an X-ray, but this is not always the case with nr-axSpa
- The male-to-female ratio of people with AS is 3:1, but with nr-axSpA, the ratio is 1:1
- While both present differently in everyone, AS tends to impact men in the lower back and buttocks, and impacts women more in the hips, neck, shoulders, and knees
- With nr-axSpA, women typically have more widespread pain that can lead to a delayed diagnosis compared to men
How does Taltz work for patients with axial spondyloarthritis?
Taltz is a treatment that targets and blocks interleukin-17A (IL-17A),* which is a protein in your body. Elevated levels of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) are associated with inflammation of the spine and can lead to symptoms of axSpA such as back pain, inflammation, fatigue, and difficulty carrying out daily activities.
*The relationship between how Taltz works and clinical outcomes has not been determined.
Taltz is approved to treat adults with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) with objective signs of inflammation.