Table 2 Characteristics of the axSpA patients (nr-axSpA and AS combined), stratified by the presence of gut dysbiosis
|  | AxSpA without dysbiosis (DI <3) n=89 | AxSpA with dysbiosis (DI ≥3) n=43 |
|---|---|---|
Male sex, n (%) | 49 (55%) | 23 (54%) |
Age, years | 51 (13) | 55 (13) |
BMI, kg/m2 | 26 (3.9) | 28 (4.7) ‡‡ |
Smoking status | ||
 Never smoker, n (%) | 67 (75%) | 2 (51%) |
 Quit smoking >6 months ago, n (%) | 17 (19%) | 14 (33%) |
 Intermittent smoker or quit <6 months ago, n (%) | 1 (1.1%) | 4 (9.3%) |
 Every day smoker, n (%) | 4 (4.5%) | 3 (7.0%) |
Symptom duration, years | 25 (13) | 28 (15) |
HLA-B27 positive, n (%) | 83 (94%) | 31 (72%) ‡ |
Nr-axSpA, n (%) | 33 (37%) | 11 (26%) |
F-calprotectin, mg/kg | ||
 Mean (SD) | 56 (71) | 112 (206) |
 Median (IQR) | 30 (55) | 39 (69) |
Elevated F-calprotectin ≥50 mg/kg, n (%) | 29 (33%) | 17 (41%) |
IBS symptoms, n (%)a | 22 (25%) | 21 (49%) ‡ |
ASDAS-CRP | 1.7 (0.9) | 2.2 (0.9) ‡ |
BASDAI | 2.6 (2.0) | 4.2 (2.4) ‡ |
EvalGlobal, 0–4, median (IQR)b | 1 (0-1) | 1 (1-1) ‡ |
CRP, mg/l | 3.1 (3.3) | 4.6 (7.6) |
BASFI | 1.6 (1.6) | 3.1 (2.5) ‡ |
BASMI | 2.9 (1.4) | 3.3 (1.5) |
VAS pain, cm | 2.9 (2.5) | 4.1 (2.5) ‡ |
ASAS 3-month NSAID score | 35 (41) | 39 (50) |
Use of proton-pump inhibitors last 3 months, n (%) | 33 (37%) | 20 (47%) |
Ongoing csDMARD, n (%) | 17 (19%) | 7 (16%) |
 Methotrexate, n (%) | 10 (11.2%) | 4 (9.3%) |
 Sulfasalazine, n (%) | 5 (5.6%) | 3 (7.0%) |
 Other csDMARD, n (%) | 2 (2.2%) | 0 (0%) |
Ongoing bDMARD, n (%) | 37 (42%) | 19 (44%) |
 Adalimumab, n (%) | 8 (9.0%) | 2 (4.7%) |
 Certolizumab pegol, n (%) | 7 (7.9%) | 4 (9.3%) |
 Etanercept, n (%) | 14 (15.7%) | 5 (11.6%) |
 Golimumab, n (%) | 3 (3.4%) | 2 (4.7%) |
 Infliximab, n (%) | 4 (4.5%) | 5 (11.6%) |
 Secukinumab, n (%) | 1 (1.1%) | 1 (2.3%) |