Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Utility of repeat MRI in assessing treatment non-response in axial spondyloarthritis: data from two large tertiary rheumatology centres
Authors' conclusion
MRI is of utility in assessing disease activity with results of MRI scans directly influencing treatment decision making at the bedside.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with a prior diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) with MRI of the spine/sacroiliac joints requested May 2020–December 2023, Leeds and Northwick Park Hospital (London)
- Participants
- 335 patients346 scans
- Exposure
- Active inflammation vs no active inflammation on MRI
- Active inflammationn = 179
- Outcome
- Treatment escalation by MRI evidence of active inflammation
Methodological detailstwo tertiary rheumatology centres
- Two tertiary rheumatology centres
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Treatment escalated
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Active inflammation on MRI (all scans)
- 54.7% · 179
- Active inflammation on MRI (all scans): of 346 MRIs
Inflammation on pre-treatment MRI
- Patients with inflammation on pre-treatment MRI
- 140/172 (80.1%)
Scans in patients on b/tsDMARD
- Scans performed on b/tsDMARD
- 224 scans (64.7%)
Original publication
Utility of repeat MRI in assessing treatment non-response in axial spondyloarthritis: data from two large tertiary rheumatology centres. RMD Open. Published 17 October 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →