Seronegative Spondyloarthritis

About Seronegative Spondyloarthritis

Seronegative spondyloarthritis is an umbrella term for autoimmune, inflammatory diseases that involve both the joints and the entheses (the sites where the ligaments and tendons attach to the bones). Ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease-associated inflammatory arthritis, and reactive arthritis all fall under this umbrella. These conditions are “seronegative” because laboratory evaluation (blood tests) for common causes of joint pain yields negative results. There may be autoimmune attack on the sacroiliac joints and vertebra resulting in back pain and stiffness that improve with activity. There may be autoimmune attack on joints in the periphery (hands, feet, shoulders, etc), resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness. There may be dactylitis (inflammation of an entire finger/toe), enthesitis (inflammation of tendon/ligament insertion sites on bones), or uveitis (inflammation of the inside part of the eye).

Treating Seronegative Spondyloarthritis at UT Health Austin

The seronegative spondyloarthritides are chronic conditions that do not yet have a cure, but we live in a day in age in which we have many different FDA-approved therapies to bring disease under control. The mainstay of treatment is immunosuppressive therapy. These drugs modulate the immune system in a variety of ways to stop autoimmune attack on joints. Physical therapy and diet/exercise may also play important roles in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Our team is here to listen and work with you to develop a treatment plan that is both effective and tailored to your personal needs.

Care Team Approach

At UT Health Austin, we take a multidisciplinary approach to your care. This means you will benefit from the expertise of multiple specialists across a variety of disciplines caring for you in one place to avoid having to schedule multiple appointments with providers at locations all over the city. The Rheumatology Clinic care team includes rheumatologists, physical therapists, dietitians, social workers, and more who work together to help you get back to the things in your life that matter most to you.

We collaborate with our colleagues at the Dell Medical School and The University of Texas at Austin to utilize the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment techniques, allowing us to identify new therapies to improve treatment outcomes. We are committed to communicating and coordinating your care with referring physicians and other partners in the community to ensure that we are providing you with comprehensive, whole-person care.