Ankylosing Spondylitis (Oxford American Respiratory Library) (Oxford American Rheumatology Library)

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and related diseases called spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are the second most common form of chronic inflammatory arthritis after Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Unfortunately, most patients with AS and SpA are either never diagnosed, or they are inadequately treated. The current mean delay in the diagnosis of AS ranges from 5 to 10 years, and the presenting clinical manifestations of these diseases are wide-ranging and heterogeneous, and thus a variety of health care professionals see AS and SpA patients, from primary care physicians to rheumatologists and other medical and surgical specialists. With the availability of newer, highly effective treatments and better methods of musculoskeletal imaging, such as the MRI, there is an urgent need to improve early diagnosis and reduce any inappropriate delay in obtaining effective treatment. Earlier diagnosis and treatment can mitigate the severity of the disease, and make a meaningful difference for patient care and quality of life. The proposed book is designed for specialists and generalists alike, and is intenteded to expedite accurate diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment in order to alleviate unnecessary suffering. Part of the new Oxford American Rheumatology Library series, this pocket-sized book provides practical, evidence-based information for clinicians to aid diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for patients with AS and SpA. The book provides pointers to early diagnosis, prognosis, clinical manifestations, socioeconomic aspects, and disease management. It also provides comprehensive coverage of current treatment options, including the latest biologics, as well as non-drug therapies. Contents......Page 10 1 Introductory overview: Ankylosing spondylitis......Page 14 2 Epidemiology of ankylosing spondylitis and related spondyloarthropathies......Page 24 3 Causes of ankylosing spondylitis......Page 34 4 Disease process......Page 40 5 Clinical features......Page 46 6 Physical findings......Page 52 7 Diagnosis......Page 58 8 Other manifestations and complications......Page 72 9 Descriptions of related diseases: The spondyloarthropathies......Page 80 10 Assessment of disease activity......Page 90 11 Disease management......Page 98 12 The new treatment: Remarkable efficacy of TNF-α antagonists......Page 108 13 Other aspects of disease management......Page 122 14 Socioeconomic aspects and prognosis......Page 130 15 Brief illustrative case histories......Page 134 Appendix 1: Organizations for AS and related SpA......Page 138 Appendix 2: Author’s selected publications in the field of AS and related SpA......Page 140 A......Page 152 C......Page 153 E......Page 154 I......Page 155 M......Page 156 P......Page 157 S......Page 158 V......Page 159 Y......Page 160 Introductory overview on ankylosing spondylitis Epidemiology of ankylosing spondylitis and related spondyloarthropathies Causes of ankylosing spondylitis Disease process Clinical features Physical findings Diagnosis Other manifestations and complications Descriptions of related diseases : the spondyloarthropathies Assessment of disease activity Disease management New treatment : remarkable efficacy of TNF-a antagonists Other aspects of disease management Socioeconomic aspects and prognosis Brief illustrative case histories. This pocket-sized book provides practical, evidence-based information for clinicians to aid diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care for patients with AS and SpA. The book includes advice on early diagnosis, prognosis, clinical manifestations, socioeconomic aspects, and disease management.