The term axial spondyloarthritis covers patients with established structural 
changes visible on x-ray in sacroiliac joints and/or in the spine (classical 
ankylosing spondylitis) but also patients with non-radiographic axial 
spondyloarthritis in whom early inflammatory signs of the disease can only be 
visualized with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI technique plays an 
important role in the diagnosis of this disease and an early diagnosis is 
normally based on a combination of clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters. 
Only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and TNF-α blockers are effective in 
the treatment of axial spondyloarthritis. Patients with short disease duration 
and elevated acute phase reactant levels demonstrate best therapy response and, 
therefore, should be closely followed-up and consistently treated.