Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40511517›Full record

ArticleArthritis care & research2025

Effect of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Sacroiliac Joint Inflammation, as Seen on Magnetic Resonance Imaging, in Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Gareth T Jones, Alexander N Bennett, Raj Sengupta, Pedro M Machado, Helena Marzo-Ortega, Lorna Aucott, Margaret A Hall-Craggs, Timothy J P Bray, Alan Bainbridge, Ruaridh M Gollifer and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Arthritis care & research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Gareth T JonesUniversity of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-0016-7591
Alexander N BennettDefence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford Hall, United Kingdom, and Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
Raj SenguptaRoyal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases and University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.
Pedro M MachadoUniversity College London, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-8411-7972
Helena Marzo-OrtegaLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Lorna AucottUniversity of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-6277-7972
Margaret A Hall-CraggsUniversity College London and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Timothy J P BrayUniversity College London and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Alan BainbridgeUniversity College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Ruaridh M GolliferUniversity College London and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Gary J MacfarlaneUniversity of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-2322-3314

Funding

Versus Arthritis 21022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveImaging evidence of active sacroiliitis is important for diagnosis, classification, and monitoring of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, there is no consistent guidance on whether patients should temporarily stop nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study was to determine whether NSAIDs lead to an underestimation of active sacroiliitis, as observed using MRI.

methodsAdults with axSpA were recruited from rheumatology clinics and undertook NSAID washout for one to two weeks before a sacroiliac joint MRI scan. Images were read by two independent readers and adjudicated by a third if required. Those who had a positive result for active sacroiliitis, as per internationally recognized criteria, underwent a second scan six weeks after recommencing daily NSAIDs. We determined the proportion of participants who had a negative scanning result while taking NSAIDs after a previous positive result when NSAID-free. Images were also scored using semiquantitative methods comprising lesion size and intensity, and a subset of participants underwent quantitative MRI (qMRI) to provide an objective evaluation of any inflammatory changes.

resultsFrom 34 centers across the United Kingdom, 311 participants (median age 42 years; 62% male) were recruited; 286 (92%) completed the NSAID washout and underwent the first MRI scan. From 146 participants with active sacroiliitis, follow-up scans (while taking NSAIDs) were obtained from 124 (85%), at which point 25 participants had a negative result (20.2%; 95% confidence interval 13.5%-28.3%). Semiquantitative and qMRI methods supported these findings.

conclusionOne-fifth of patients showed full resolution of active sacroiliitis lesions when NSAIDs were present. In clinical practice, if patients with axSpA are willing to attempt a one- to two-week NSAID washout before MRI, this should be considered.

Indexed as

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalAxial SpondyloarthritisMagnetic Resonance ImagingSacroiliac JointSacroiliitisAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal

Identifiers

PMID40511517
PMCPMC12750118

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.