Axial spondyloarthritis

Axial spondyloarthritis (also often referred to as axSpA) is a chronic, immune-mediated disease predominantly affecting the axial skeleton (sacroiliac joints and spine). The term itself is an umbrella term characterizing a diverse disease family united by shared clinical and genetic features, such as the involvement of the axial skeleton. The term axial spondyloarthritis was introduced in 2009, and has to some extent replaced the older, narrower diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis.