Charity: National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society UK
Axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) is an inflammatory arthritis where the main symptom is back pain Axial spondyloarthritis is an umbrella term and it includes: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Where changes to the sacroiliac joints or the spine can be seen on x-ray. Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis Where x-ray changes are not present but inflammation is visible on MRI or you have symptoms. Around 7 in 10 people with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis have visible inflammation in the sacroiliac joints or the spine when an MRI of the back is carried out. Around 3 in 10 may not have any inflammation visible on MRI despite symptoms of back pain. Some may never go on to develop visible inflammation on MRI. The reasons for this are still not well understood but may be due to the sensitivity of MRI.