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Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) are indicated to treat ankylosing spondylitis (AS), also termed radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The main indication for TNFi is symptom relief, and whether they retard spinal structural damage as assessed by radiography is debated. Hips are the most common "non-spinal" joints involved in AS patients leading to major incapacitation. No major treatment guidelines mention measures to prevent peripheral joint damage, especially hips, in individuals with AS. We present our experience of prevention of structural damage in hips by TNFi in 4 AS patients from our practice. We conducted a literature review looking for articles describing prevention of structural damage progression in hips by TNFi. Over a 10-year period, three out of four patients were treated with TNFi and had no progression in hip damage as assessed by imaging. Only one patient that withdrew the TNFi due to infectious complications developed rapid worsening and required hip arthroplasty. Our literature review showed multiple case series with similar results suggesting that use of TNFi in patients with AS may prevent structural damage and at least postpone a hip replacement at a young age. Based on our experience, as well as from the literature review, we believe that treatment guidelines in axSpA should recommend prompt institution of TNFi following identification of hip involvement in patients to prevent a major source of disability. Whether interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors or targeted synthetic anti-rheumatic drugs have hip sparing effects in patients with AS should also be investigated. Key Points • Hip involvement in ankylosing spondylitis is a major source of disability. • TNFi prevent hip damage in ankylosing spondylitis. • Prompt institution of TNFi should follow suspicion of hip involvement in ankylosing spondylitis.

To determine the influence of breastfeeding duration in the clinical activity of low-income juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Ninety-one JIA patients followed in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil, were cross-sectionally evaluated from May 2015 to April 2016. Breastfeeding duration was obtained by interviewing mothers. Mean age was 14.6 ± 5.2 years with 10.31 ± 3.7 years of disease duration. Polyarticular category predominated, with 39 (42.8%) patients, followed by 23 (25.3%) oligoarticular and 17 (18.7%) enthesitis-related. Forty-seven (61.8%) were receiving methotrexate isolated or combined to leflunomide, which was used by 12 (15.4%); 30 (32.9%) were on biologic DMARD with 16 (53.3%) etanercept, 8 (26.7%) adalimumab, 3 (10%) tocilizumab, and 1 (3.3%) each on infliximab, abatacept, and canakinumab. Mean(SD) CHAQ and JADAS27 were 0.37 ± 0.36 and 5.03 ± 6.1, respectively and 22 (24%) had permanent joint deformities. No family declared monthly income over US$900.00 and 32 (37.2%) earned less than US$300.00. Eighty-three (91%) were ever breastfed; over two-thirds were breastfed for more than 3 months. Those breastfed for more than 6 months had less joint deformities and a tendency to lower JADAS27 and CHAQ scores using minimally adjusted general linear or logistic models, as appropriate. Parental smoking or literacy and family income did not differ regarding breastfeeding time. This is a low-income JIA cohort with the highest breastfeeding prevalence ever reported. Breastfeeding over 6 months was associated with less disease activity.Key Point• Long-term breastfeeding benefits juvenile idiopathic arthritis.