Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Development of structural damage in the spine in patients with PsA: findings from a longitudinal cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Syndesmophytes developed in approximately one-fifth of patients with PsA during long-term follow-up. Systemic inflammation and radiographic sacroiliitis are major, independent predictors of spinal structural damage.
Study context
- Population
- Patients from a prospective longitudinal PsA cohort (median age 45)922 without baseline syndesmophytes, repeat radiographs
- Participants
- 1,584 patients
- Outcome
- Development of new syndesmophytes on cervical and lumbar spine radiographs
Methodological detailslongitudinal, Cox regression, multivariable models
- Longitudinal
- Cox regression
- Multivariable models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
New syndesmophytes in patients without baseline syndesmophytes
Developed new syndesmophytes
166
18.0%
Median time to development (IQR 2.4-9.9)
5.8 years
Higher ESR, HR
1.02
95% CI 1.01–1.03
Higher radiographic sacroiliitis score, HR
1.19
95% CI 1.07–1.32
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Syndesmophytes at baseline (clinic entry)
- Syndesmophytes at baseline
- 218 (13.8%)
- Median follow-up (IQR 4.4-14.3)
- 8.5 years
- Incidence of new syndesmophytes appeared to decline in more recent calendar years
Original publication
Development of structural damage in the spine in patients with PsA: findings from a longitudinal cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 15 April 2026. doi:10.
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