Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Effect of Nonsteroidal Anti‐Inflammatory Drugs on Sacroiliac Joint Inflammation, as Seen on Magnetic Resonance Imaging, in Axial Spondyloarthritis
Authors' conclusion
One-fifth of patients showed full resolution of active sacroiliitis lesions when NSAIDs were present.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) recruited from rheumatology clinics, 34 centres across the UK (median age 42 years; 62% male)
- Participants
- 311 adults124 re-scanned on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Exposure
- Sacroiliac joint magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after 1–2 weeks NSAID washout vs MRI 6 weeks after recommencing daily NSAIDs
- Outcome
- Proportion of participants with a negative MRI for active sacroiliitis while taking NSAIDs after a previous positive result when NSAID-free
- Follow-up
- 6 weeks after recommencing daily NSAIDs
Methodological detailsmulticentre, NSAID washout then re-scan on NSAIDs, two independent readers with adjudication, 286 (92%) completed NSAID washout and first MRI; 146 had active sacroiliitis; follow-up scans obtained from 124 (85%)
- Multicentre
- NSAID washout then re-scan on NSAIDs
- Two independent readers with adjudication
- 286 (92%) completed NSAID washout and first MRI; 146 had active sacroiliitis; follow-up scans obtained from 124 (85%)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Negative MRI for active sacroiliitis on NSAIDs after positive NSAID-free scan · 6 weeks
Negative result on follow-up scan (25 of 124)
20.2%
95% CI
13.5%-28.3%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Semiquantitative and quantitative MRI (qMRI) scoring
- Semiquantitative and qMRI methods supported these findings
Original publication
Effect of Nonsteroidal Anti‐Inflammatory Drugs on Sacroiliac Joint Inflammation, as Seen on Magnetic Resonance Imaging, in Axial Spondyloarthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 10 September 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →