Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2025
Author Spotlight: Evaluating Traditional Chinese Therapy for Ankylosing Spondylitis in Mice
Published on: October 27, 2023
Differentiating nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis from its mimics: a narrative review
1Swedish Medical Center/Providence St. Joseph Health and University of Washington, Seattle Rheumatology Associates, WA, Seattle, USA. pmease@philipmease.com.
Background:
Optimal treatment of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis depends on accurate and timely diagnosis of the underlying disease; however, patients present with common symptoms that, in the absence of radiographic changes, may confound diagnosis.
Methods And Findings:
In this narrative review, a PubMed literature search was conducted through January 2021, with no date limits, to identify English-language publications discussing classification of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis, with an emphasis on clinical features and presentation, differential diagnoses, and mimics of disease. This review describes the epidemiology, clinical features, and burden of disease of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis as it relates to the overall axial spondyloarthritis spectrum and discusses mimics and differential diagnoses of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis that should be considered when evaluating patients with suspected nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis in clinical practice.
Conclusions:
Recognition of clinical features of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis, along with an understanding of comorbid conditions such as fibromyalgia, allows for differentiation from its mimics. Appropriate diagnosis of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis is important for aggressive management of disease to reduce pain, avoid loss of function, and improve quality of life.
