axSpA
Medical abbreviation · Musculoskeletal & Rheumatology
| Stands for | Axial spondyloarthritis |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
axSpA stands for Axial spondyloarthritis, a musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviation.
Umbrella term for inflammatory arthritis mainly affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints, covering both radiographic disease (ankylosing spondylitis) and non-radiographic disease, in which inflammation is visible on MRI but X-rays are normal. Both forms cause similar symptoms and respond to the same treatments.
Example: Inflammatory back pain, MRI with sacroiliac bone marrow edema, normal X-rays: nr-axSpA.
Usage notes
The lowercase "ax" stands for axial. The ASAS classification criteria, published in 2009, allowed earlier diagnosis by including MRI findings. Non-radiographic axSpA is more evenly distributed between men and women than classic AS. Typical delays to diagnosis have historically been seven years or more.
Related abbreviations
More musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviations
- ACDF – Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
- ACLR – Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
- APS – Antiphospholipid syndrome
- AS – Ankylosing spondylitis
- AVN – Avascular necrosis
- BTB – Bone-patellar tendon-bone (graft)
- CES – Cauda equina syndrome
- CPPD – Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease
- CRPP – Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning
- CRPS – Complex regional pain syndrome
- CTS – Carpal tunnel syndrome
- DAS28 – Disease Activity Score in 28 joints
See all 71 musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.