Integrated Chinese and Western treatment for ankylosing spondylitis

Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Cohort Study Protocol Focusing on Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) Scoring System

Observational China-Japan Friendship Hospital · NCT07509775

This project will try combined traditional Chinese and Western medical care in adults with ankylosing spondylitis to see if it slows spinal damage over several years.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment210 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
SponsorChina-Japan Friendship Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Beijing, Beijing, China)
Trial IDNCT07509775 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a multicenter, ambidirectional observational cohort combining three years of retrospective data with up to two years of prospective follow-up to study long-term outcomes. Participants are adults meeting the 1984 modified New York criteria or the 2009 ASAS axial spondyloarthritis criteria and are treated with integrated traditional Chinese and Western approaches in routine care. Radiographic progression will be quantified using the SPARCC scoring system across participating hospitals in China. No experimental drug is assigned by the protocol; the study analyzes outcomes under real-world integrated care while excluding patients with other autoimmune diseases, pregnancy, severe organ failure, or malignancy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–75 with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis who meet the 1984 modified New York criteria or the 2009 ASAS axial spondyloarthritis criteria and can provide informed consent are the intended candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with other autoimmune diseases, pregnancy or lactation, severe cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease, hepatic or renal failure, malignancy, or non-axial spondyloarthritis subtypes are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from the findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this integrated approach could slow radiographic progression and help guide combined-care strategies for people with ankylosing spondylitis.

How similar studies have performed: Some smaller trials and observational reports suggest symptom benefits from traditional Chinese medicine or combined care, but robust long-term evidence showing reduced radiographic progression is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* fulfill the 1984 modified New York criteria for ankylosing spondylitis or the 2009 Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) classification criteria for axial spondyloarthritis
* age between 18 and 75 years
* sign informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* diagnosis of other autoimmune diseases besides the disease under investigation (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, erythema nodosum, myositis, etc.)
* pregnancy or lactation
* comorbid severe cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, hepatic or renal failure, or malignancy
* spondyloarthritis related to enteropathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or reactive arthritis
* unable to provide data due to mental, language, or similar factors.

Where this trial is running

Beijing, Beijing, China

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Ankylosing Spondylitis
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.