The term non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis refers to patients who have a clinical picture of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) but do not exhibit radiographic sacroiliitis.
The clinical diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and signs of the disease, HLA B27 status, and magnetic resonance imaging of sacroiliac joints.
A negative MRI or HLA B27 does not exclude the diagnosis in patients with a high clinical suspicion for non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
The prevalence of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis is similar to that of ankylosing spondylitis.
Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis has a higher female preponderance than in ankylosing spondylitis,
The rate of progression of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis radiographic stage of disease ranges from 10% to 20% over 2 years.
Current treatment strategies for non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis are the same as for ankylosing spondylitis, and include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.