ASIF name change

At the recent AGM, members voted to change the name of ASIF to:

Axial Spondyloarthritis International Federation. 

Why? Because MRI can detect our disease much earlier than x-rays can, leading to people being diagnosed with Non-radiographic axial Spondyloarthritis, or nr AxSpA. Nr AxSpA has all the features of Ankylosing Spondylitis except for radiographic confirmation of sacroiliitis. We wish to serve everyone with Axial Spondyloarthritis, not just those with radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis (ie Ankylosing Spondylitis).

The term axial Spondyloarthritis has been in use for over 30 years and in 2005 the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) started using new classification criteria which used only the terms non-radiographic axial Spondyloarthritis and radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis. It has taken years for the terms to be used in clinical practice, but increasingly people are being diagnosed with Axial Spondyloarthritis rather than Ankylosing Spondylitis.

ASIF is proud of showing leadership in embracing all patients with either form of Axial Spondyloarthritis.

This infographic explains the different terms:
download here

New infographics – available to be circulated and if necessary translated

With UCB, ASIF has created two new infographics

One to explain the more recent terminology around Axial Spondyloarthritis, nr-asSpA and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

The second to explain some of the statistics around Women and AxSpa. Women continue to be misdiagnosed because in many countries it is still incorrectly believed to be a disease that affects mostly men.

These infographics are available to be produced in other languages for members. If you can produce the translations, we can help you to get this infographic created in your language to share with your members. If you would like to explore this, please contact Jo on office@asif.info

More details on the resources page.

2019 Montane Spine Race

Congratulations Raj!

ASIF Trustee, Raj Mahapatra has done it again! For an incredible third time, Raj has completed the Montane Spine Fusion Race. 268 miles (431 kms) of hilly trails over less than six days, all to achieve a personal challenge and to raise awareness of AxSpA/AS, which Raj lives with. A huge congratulations to Raj Mahapatra. You are an inspiration!

Spine Race is with National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society and Montane.

Watch Raj’s finish in the video below, and visit https://www.facebook.com/TheSpineRace/ to view more of the video series.

NASS is the official charity of the Spine Race. If they’ve left you feeling inspired, please consider donating to their fundraising page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/spinefusion

Episode 7 Montane Spine Fusion® and Spine Flare® 2019

Episode 7 of the 2019 Montane Spine Fusion® and Spine Flare®.

Posted by Spine Race on Thursday, 27 June 2019