{"markup":"\u003C?xml version=\u00221.0\u0022 encoding=\u0022UTF-8\u0022 ?\u003E\n    \u003Chtml version=\u0022HTML+RDFa+MathML 1.1\u0022\n    xmlns:content=\u0022http:\/\/purl.org\/rss\/1.0\/modules\/content\/\u0022\n    xmlns:dc=\u0022http:\/\/purl.org\/dc\/terms\/\u0022\n    xmlns:foaf=\u0022http:\/\/xmlns.com\/foaf\/0.1\/\u0022\n    xmlns:og=\u0022http:\/\/ogp.me\/ns#\u0022\n    xmlns:rdfs=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/01\/rdf-schema#\u0022\n    xmlns:sioc=\u0022http:\/\/rdfs.org\/sioc\/ns#\u0022\n    xmlns:sioct=\u0022http:\/\/rdfs.org\/sioc\/types#\u0022\n    xmlns:skos=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2004\/02\/skos\/core#\u0022\n    xmlns:xsd=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2001\/XMLSchema#\u0022\n    xmlns:mml=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1998\/Math\/MathML\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Chead\u003E\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_itu2PgFdrjV-docKmLK8Jn5oXe_05RgvQh73eOhI_mE.js\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_at_symbol.js?nzng4p\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_article_reference_popup.js?nzng4p\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_I8yX6RYPZb7AtMcDUA3QKDZqVkvEn35ED11_1i7vVpc.js\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022\u003E\n\u003C!--\/\/--\u003E\u003C![CDATA[\/\/\u003E\u003C!--\n(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i[\u0022GoogleAnalyticsObject\u0022]=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,\u0022script\u0022,\u0022\/\/www.google-analytics.com\/analytics.js\u0022,\u0022ga\u0022);ga(\u0022create\u0022, \u0022UA-15605596-27\u0022, {\u0022cookieDomain\u0022:\u0022auto\u0022});ga(\u0022set\u0022, \u0022page\u0022, location.pathname + location.search + location.hash);ga(\u0022send\u0022, \u0022pageview\u0022);ga(\u0027create\u0027, \u0027UA-189672-26\u0027, \u0027auto\u0027, {\u0027name\u0027: \u0027hwTracker\u0027});\r\nga(\u0027hwTracker.send\u0027, \u0027pageview\u0027);\n\/\/--\u003E\u003C!]]\u003E\n\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022\u003E\n\u003C!--\/\/--\u003E\u003C![CDATA[\/\/\u003E\u003C!--\njQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {\u0022basePath\u0022:\u0022\\\/\u0022,\u0022pathPrefix\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022highwire\u0022:{\u0022markup\u0022:[{\u0022requested\u0022:\u0022full-text\u0022,\u0022variant\u0022:\u0022full-text\u0022,\u0022view\u0022:\u0022full\u0022,\u0022pisa\u0022:\u0022spmdc;12\\\/9\\\/19\u0022},{\u0022requested\u0022:\u0022long\u0022,\u0022variant\u0022:\u0022full-text\u0022,\u0022view\u0022:\u0022full\u0022,\u0022pisa\u0022:\u0022spmdc;12\\\/9\\\/19\u0022}],\u0022ac\u0022:{\u0022spmdc;12\\\/9\\\/19\u0022:{\u0022access\u0022:{\u0022reprint\u0022:true,\u0022full\u0022:true},\u0022pisa_id\u0022:\u0022spmdc;12\\\/9\\\/19\u0022,\u0022atom_uri\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022jcode\u0022:\u0022spmdc\u0022}}},\u0022googleanalytics\u0022:{\u0022trackOutbound\u0022:1,\u0022trackMailto\u0022:1,\u0022trackDownload\u0022:1,\u0022trackDownloadExtensions\u0022:\u00227z|aac|arc|arj|asf|asx|avi|bin|csv|doc(x|m)?|dot(x|m)?|exe|flv|gif|gz|gzip|hqx|jar|jpe?g|js|mp(2|3|4|e?g)|mov(ie)?|msi|msp|pdf|phps|png|ppt(x|m)?|pot(x|m)?|pps(x|m)?|ppam|sld(x|m)?|thmx|qtm?|ra(m|r)?|sea|sit|tar|tgz|torrent|txt|wav|wma|wmv|wpd|xls(x|m|b)?|xlt(x|m)|xlam|xml|z|zip\u0022,\u0022trackUrlFragments\u0022:1},\u0022ajaxPageState\u0022:{\u0022js\u0022:{\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/libraries\\\/cluetip\\\/jquery.cluetip.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/libraries\\\/cluetip\\\/lib\\\/jquery.hoverIntent.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/libraries\\\/cluetip\\\/lib\\\/jquery.bgiframe.min.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/highwire\\\/highwire\\\/plugins\\\/highwire_markup_process\\\/js\\\/highwire_at_symbol.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/highwire\\\/highwire\\\/plugins\\\/highwire_markup_process\\\/js\\\/highwire_article_reference_popup.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/contrib\\\/google_analytics\\\/googleanalytics.js\u0022:1,\u00220\u0022:1}}});\n\/\/--\u003E\u003C!]]\u003E\n\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Clink type=\u0022text\/css\u0022 rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 href=\u0022\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/sites\/default\/files\/cdn\/css\/http\/css_Xg7z6oCTVgud_Q0huYz9x9iiD5H_2YPSJ5z2ZViSWdY.css\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Clink rel=\u0027stylesheet\u0027 type=\u0027text\/css\u0027 href=\u0027\/sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/panels\/plugins\/layouts\/onecol\/onecol.css\u0027 \/\u003E\u003C\/head\u003E\u003Cbody\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panels-ajax-tab-panel panels-ajax-tab-panel-sageoa-tab-art\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-display panel-1col clearfix\u0022 \u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-panel panel-col\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-pane pane-highwire-markup\u0022 \u003E\n  \n      \n  \n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022pane-content\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-markup\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv xmlns=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022 id=\u0022content-block-markup\u0022 xmlns:xhtml=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022article fulltext-view \u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022highwire-journal-article-marker-start\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022section abstract\u0022 id=\u0022abstract-1\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESummary\u003C\/h2\u003E\n            \u003Cp id=\u0022p-1\u0022\u003EWhen the inflammation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) subsides, it may be replaced by repair tissue and fatty lesions, a process that leads to osteoproliferation and development of syndesmophytes. This article presents results from the European Ankylosing Spondylitis Infliximab Cohort [EASIC] study, an open-label extension of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Study for the Evaluation of Recombinant Infliximab Therapy [ASSERT]. The objective of the EASIC study was to directly compare the effect of inflammation and fatty degeneration on the development of syndesmophytes in patients with AS after 5 years of anti-TNF therapy.\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022kwd-group\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ERheumatology Clinical Trials\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003EInflammatory Disorders\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-2\u0022\u003EWhen the inflammation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) subsides, it may be replaced by repair tissue and fatty lesions, a process that leads to osteoproliferation and development of syndesmophytes. Results from clinical trials suggest that new bone formation is not inhibited or enhanced by anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Xenofon Baraliakos, MD, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet Herne, Herne, Germany, presented results from the European Ankylosing Spondylitis Infliximab Cohort [EASIC] study, an open-label extension of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Study for the Evaluation of Recombinant Infliximab Therapy [ASSERT]. The objective of the EASIC study was to directly compare the effect of inflammation and fatty degeneration on the development of syndesmophytes in patients with AS after 5 years of anti-TNF therapy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-3\u0022\u003EThe aim of the ASSERT Study was to evaluate the effect of infliximab on the progression of structural damage over 2 years in patients with AS. A total of 279 patients participated. After a mean of 1.3\u00b10.9 years, 103 patients from ASSERT were enrolled in the EASIC substudy. Complete magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data at baseline and 2 years and x-ray data at baseline, 2 years, and 5 years were available for 73 EASIC patients. Assessments were blinded with respect to the time points of MRI and x-ray studies. Only the anterior edges of the cervical and lumbar spine were analyzed. Baseline lesions were compared with radiographic progression at 2 and 5 years after adjustment for within-patient variation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-4\u0022\u003EAt baseline, the mean (\u00b1 standard deviation [SD]) age of patients was 40.5\u00b110.5 years; 86.3% of patients were men, and the mean (\u00b1SD) disease duration was 10\u00b18.4 years. Patients had mean (\u00b1SD) Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis (BAS) Disease Activity Index scores of 6.5\u00b11.4, BAS Functional Index scores of 5.9\u00b11.6, BAS Metrology Index scores of 4.1\u00b11.7, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of 2.9\u00b12.3 mg\/dL, and 83.6% was human leukocyte antigen B27-positive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-5\u0022\u003EAt 2 years, radiographic progression had occurred in 0.7% (n=10) of patients with baseline inflammation and 0.9% (n=13) of patients with baseline fatty degeneration. At 5 years, radiographic progression was present in 1.0% (n=14) of patients with baseline inflammation and 1.4% (n=21) of those with fatty degeneration. Among patients with both inflammation and fatty degeneration at baseline, radiographic progression was present in 2.1% (n=20) at 2 years and 3.7% (n=35) at 5 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-6\u0022\u003EBone formation in the cervical and lumbar spine was limited in patients with AS who received anti-TNF therapy for 5 years. Bone inflammation and fatty changes at baseline appear to influence new bone formation. The combination of inflammatory lesions and fatty lesions is most likely to lead to development of new syndesmophytes. Numerically, most new syndesmophytes could not be explained by baseline inflammation or fatty changes. The author concluded that early treatment of active lesions should be the aim of anti-TNF therapy for regression of syndesmophytes in patients with AS.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022copyright-statement\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022fn\u0022 id=\u0022copyright-statement-1\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2012 MD Conference Express\u00ae\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022highwire-journal-article-marker-end\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022related-urls\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/content\/12\/9\/19.abstract\u0022 class=\u0022hw-link hw-link-article-abstract\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EView Summary\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n  \n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_openurl.js?nzng4p\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C\/body\u003E\u003C\/html\u003E"}