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02:30

Symptoms of Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)

In this video, rheumatologist Maggie Cadet, MD, explains the symptoms of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, and why they can be tricky to diagnose.

Brittany DoohanAlexandra Schwarz, MD
Written by Brittany Doohan | Reviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD
Updated on October 31, 2023

Spondyloarthritis is an umbrella term for arthritis diseases that primarily affect the spine. Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) is one type of spondyloarthritis.

The “nr” in nr-axSpA stands for “non-radiographic.” This is one way to differentiate it from another type of arthritis that affects the spine, called ankylosing spondylitis. Non-radiographic is just a fancy way of saying there’s no damage visible on X-rays. By contrast, patients with ankylosing spondylitis will have visible damage to the bone on X-rays. Technically, nr-axSpA can be early-stage ankylosing spondylitis. Symptoms of nr-axSpA vary from person to person, so it’s important to get a proper diagnosis.

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Additional Medical Contributors
  • Magdalena Cadet, MDMagdalena Cadet, MD, is a board-certified Rheumatologist in New York. She specializes in autoimmune diseases, arthritis, and health conditions that disproportionately affect women and minorities.

    References

    UpToDate. (2022). Overview of the clinical manifestations and classification of spondyloarthritis.

    UpToDate. (2022). Low back pain in adults (The Basics).

    View All References (1)

    UpToDate. (2022). Axial spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis (Beyond the Basics).

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