What is axSpA?
Axial Spondyloarthritis (also known as axSpA or axial SpA) is one of a group of inflammatory rheumatic diseases known as Spondyloarthritis that share clinical and genetic features.
AxSpA is a progressive chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine and the sacroiliac (SI) joints that connect the lower spine to the pelvis. This results in pain and stiffness in the lower back, hips and buttocks. It can also affect other joints in the body, as well as tendons and ligaments. It causes inflammation and can lead to chronic pain, and impairments in mobility.
Latest from ASIF
26 March 2025
New Treasurer for ASIF
We are delighted to welcome René Bräm as ASIF’s new Treasurer. Rene is the director of the Swiss Ankylosing Spondylitis Association and is a board member and trustee of national associations and foundations in Switzerland. René has supported ASIF since its foundation, when for many years he was the treasurer as well as working as an auditor.
26 March 2025
New Expert Advisory Committee
ASIF has recently established a multi-disciplinary Expert Advisory Committee (EAC), which provides a healthcare perspective on ASIF’s work. Alongside patient organisations, the committee includes rheumatology; physiotherapy and rehabilitation; nursing; psychology; and epidemiology experts.
26 March 2025
ASIF Council Meeting Report
The ASIF Council Meeting in Bogota at the end of last year was a great success with nearly 50 representatives from 25 countries across all continents. Our members shared ideas and experiences, whilst experts spoke about the latest developments in axSpA research, the role patient organisations can play in psychosocial health and many other topics.
ASIF programmes
21 March 2025
World AS Day
This year the theme is ‘Lace up for axSpA’. The campaign highlights the everyday challenges of living with axSpA. Tying shoelaces is just one example of an ‘everyday challenge’ – the materials feature other tasks including drinking from a water bottle, checking traffic before crossing the road, reaching for something from a high shelf and bending to pick up something from the floor. Find out more about the campaign and how you can raise awareness!
21 March 2025
IMAS
Dive into the numbers from the International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS) Global Report in our interactive webpages. With data from more than 5,500 patients from 27 countries across five continents, IMAS is the largest ever survey of axSpA patients. The report is now available to download in English, French and German.
21 March 2025
Patient Resources
What is axSpA? Treatment options, Living well with axSpA, Getting the most out of your rheumatology appointments, Building a partnership with your doctor – these are just some of the guides available for download on our Resources webpage. In addition to patient-focused guides, there is information about ASDAS and BASDAI, webinar recordings, videos and guides on exercise and movement and guides specifically for patient organisations.
From around the world
24 March 2025
APMARR
Associazione Nazionale Persone con Malattie Reumatologiche e Rare (APMARR), celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. APMARR’s mission is “to improve the quality of assistance and to improve the quality of life” offering help and information to people with rheumatic and rare diseases through volunteering, psychological support, awareness campaigns.
24 March 2025
ASAS Annual Meeting
Jo Davies and Jo Lowe were delighted to attend the ASAS annual meeting in January. This year’s event marked 30 years of ASAS and was held in Maastricht, in the Netherlands where the organisation was founded in 1995. It was a fitting way to commemorate the success and achievements of ASAS over the last three decades.
24 March 2025
The Pursuit of Remission and Improved Quality of Life in axSpA
Join the Global Alliance for Patient Access (GAfPA) and ASIF’s for a webinar highlighting the value of pursuing remission in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. ASIF Trustees Nadia Malliou and Lillann Wermskog, and Jo Lowe, Project Manager at ASIF, will be talking to Neil Betteridge, Strategic Advisor for European Alliance for Patient Access, about axSpA, an overview of the disease, an introduction to ASIF and IMAS data and the value of achieving remission or low disease activity from a personal perspective as a patient.
24 March 2025
Global Spondyloarthritis Summit
Registration is now open! Join us on May 2-3, 2025, for the Spondylitis Association of America’s 7th Annual Global Spondyloarthritis Summit—a free, virtual event bringing together top experts to explore the latest in SpA care.
Conferences and Events
About ASIF
Established in 1988, the Axial Spondyloarthritis International Federation is an international membership organisation representing patient associations around the globe specialising in the support of patients with axSpA with 56 Patient Organisation Members from 45 countries around the world.
ASIF’s Mission is to advocate globally to improve the lives of people affected by axial spondyloarthritis and related conditions. To grow, strengthen and empower our community, and to raise awareness around the world.