Posted on 12-Dec-2012
Spondyloarthritis Fast Facts
- SpAs are a group of diseases sharing common genetic and clinical features1
- The condition impacts up to 2% of white populations in the EU and North America1
- Men are 2.5 times more likely to be affected by any form of SpA than women1
- SpA is closely related to the presence of the HLA-B27 gene2
Terminology
- · Spondyloarthritides is the plural for Spondyloarthritis - a group of inflammatory arthritic diseases sharing common clinical and genetic features1
- · SpAs are characterized by the following:1
- Axial SpA – involving inflammation of the spine or sacroiliac joints. This includes the most severe form - ankylosing spondylitis (AS)2
- Peripheral SpA – characterised by peripheral arthritis, enthesitis (heel pain) and dactylitis (swelling of the finger)1
Epidemiology
- · SpAs affect up to 2% of white European and North American populations1
- · Men are 2.5 times more likely to be affected by women1
- AS is the most frequent and severe sub-type, affecting 0.3–0.5% of people2
Risk Factors
- Carriers of the HLA-B27 gene which is present in more than 90% of AS patients2
- Psoriatic skin lesions2
- Colitis due to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)2
Symptoms
- Inflammatory back pain lasting more than three months1
- Morning stiffness in the spine, lasting more than 30 minutes1
- Alternating buttock pain1
- Arthritis2
- Eye inflammation (uveitis)3
- Fatigue3
Treatment
Treatment of SpAs will be dependent on the type and severity of each condition. Types of treatment can include:
- Pharmacotherapy:3
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Steroids
- Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- Biologic drugs
- Non-medicinal:3
- Ice packs and heat pads to relieve joint pain and swelling
- Use of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation machine (TENS)
- A healthy diet
- Exercise such as swimming to relax joints
References
1. Poddubnyy D. Improving diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis and spondyloarthritis in general Int. J. Clin. R heumatol. 655-667 (2011) 6(6)