Disease activity assessment in non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis- is it time to move beyond BASDAI or ASDAS ?

Abstract

We read with great interest article on Is treatment in patients with suspected non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis effective? Six-months results of a placebo controlled trial by Rusman T et al[1] . It was an interestingly planned study where based on clinical disease activity as per BASDAI, patients with nr-ax SpA were randomized either to receive etanercept or placebo for 16 weeks. Results of this study bring forth many doubts on our currently prevalent assessment of disease activity in ax SpA, nr- ax SpA in particular.