Factors Contributing to Accurate Diagnosis of Axial Spondyloarthritis

Early diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in patients with chronic low back pain is important for the timely initiation of anti-inflammatory treatment. Features contributing to an accurate diagnosis were explored in this multicenter European observational cohort study of 552 adults (mean age, 31) with low back pain of unknown cause and 3 months' to 2 years' duration (mean, 13 months) who were referred by general practitioners to rheumatologists. Initial clinical, laboratory, and imaging assessment led to a diagnostic classification at baseline with follow-up through 2 years.

At baseline, axSpA diagnoses were made in 175 patients (32%), of whom most had three or more major or minor diagnostic features (e.g., HLA-B27 positivity, famil…