Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42540149›Full record

ArticleEULAR rheumatology open2026

In search of a window of opportunity in axial spondyloarthritis: treatment outcomes across different symptom durations.

Annik Steimer, Andrea Götschi, Sofia Ramiro, Michael J Nissen, Kristina Bürki, Michael Andor, Simon Grosswiler, Diego Kyburz, Burkhard Möller, Sabine Adler and 6 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in EULAR rheumatology open, 2026. 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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

16 authors.

Annik SteimerDepartment of Rheumatology, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Andrea GötschiSwiss Clinical Quality Management in Rheumatic Diseases Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland.
Sofia RamiroDepartment of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
Michael J NissenDepartment of Rheumatology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
Kristina BürkiDepartment of Rheumatology, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Michael AndorRheumatologie im Zürcher Oberland, Uster, Switzerland.
Simon GrosswilerAnkylosing Spondylitis Association, Zurich, Switzerland.
Diego KyburzDepartment of Rheumatology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Burkhard MöllerDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Sabine AdlerDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Diana DanDepartment of Rheumatology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Laure Brülhart BletsasDivision of Rheumatology, La Chaux-de-Fonds Hospital, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
Frauke FörgerDepartment of Rheumatology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Oliver DistlerDepartment of Rheumatology, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Raphael MicheroliDepartment of Rheumatology, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Adrian CiureaDepartment of Rheumatology, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a first tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) in patients with short and long symptom duration in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), using alternative cut-offs for back pain duration: ≤1 year as very early, >1 year, and ≤5 years as intermediate axSpA, and >5 years as late axSpA. Methods: A total of 1161 patients with axSpA from the Swiss Clinical Quality Management registry, who had data on the duration of back pain and initiated their first TNFi, were included. Patients were categorised as follows: very early axSpA ( Results: Higher disease activity parameters were found at baseline in very early axSpA. However, no significant differences were observed in treatment response or TNFi retention between very early and late axSpA (odds ratio for ASDAS < 2.1 response 0.99, 95% CI: 0.62-1.59 and hazard ratio for drug discontinuation 1.09, 95% CI: 0.87-1.37). Conclusions: Based on this real-world observational data, no evidence was found to suggest a superior effectiveness of TNFi in patients with very early axSpA compared with those with late axSpA.

Identifiers

PMID42540149
PMCPMC13425161

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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.