Effects of secukinumab on skeletal microarchitecture and vertebral fractures in patients with axial spondyloarthritis using HR-pQCT

Thirty AxSpA participants were enrolled, 50% female (13% postmenopausal) and 47% HLA-B27 positive. Mean symptom duration was 12 years, with moderate activity (BASDAI mean 5 [SD = 2]). Baseline DXA and HR-pQCT Z-scores were within 1 standard deviation of sex- and age-matched controls. BASDAI (- 33%, p < 0.01) and BASMI (- 22%, p = 0.01) improved, but there was no improvement in aBMD, TBS, or microarchitecture. By HR-pQCT, vBMD decreased (- 0.6%, p = 0.04), and cortical porosity increased (8.3%, p = 0.03). New vertebral fractures were not observed.