Rheumatology

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Outcome of active disease in ankylosing spondylitis: A prospective study
Musculoskeletal Care, 10/13/09

Martindale J et al. – In this cohort, disease markers in most people with active AS were sustained above the standard threshold for active disease. This has important implications for planning care pathways and for optimal utilization of anti-TNF treatment.

• 89 participants
• Participants with AS, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) scores of 4 or higher were used to identify those with active disease
• Standard assessment tools used to monitor participants prospectively at 4 consecutive 6-monthly intervals
• Participants received standard treatments but none received anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) medication during study

• Median age of cohort was 50 y (inter-quartile range [IQR] 38.5-55.5), the median age of disease onset was 25 y (IQR 18-33) and median disease duration 18 y (IQR 13-27)
• 47 (53%) participants had BASDAI score of 4 or higher on first assessment
• 45 (51%) scored 4 or higher on all subsequent assessments
• 38 (43%) and 16 (18%) participants scored BASDAI 5 or 6, respectively, or higher
• BASDAI scores correlated strongly with BASFI scores
• Compared with 19 (21%) participants whose BASDAI scores were consistently below 4 throughout, participants with persistently high BASDAI scores showed higher scores for anxiety and depression
• Evidence of functional deterioration during the study period

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Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology , 11/24/09

An open-source, self-explanatory touch screen in routine care. Validity of filling in the Bath measures on Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Function Index, the Health Assessment Questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scales in comparison with paper versions
Rheumatology, 11/23/09

Agreement between quantiferon-TB gold test and tuberculin skin test in the identification of latent tuberculosis infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
Journal of Rheumatology, 11/18/09

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