ankylosing%20spondylitis
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS
Treatment Guideline Chart
Spondyloarthritis refers to a group of inflammatory diseases characterized by spinal & joint oligoarthritis, enthesitis, and sometimes mucocutaneous, ocular and/or cardiac manifestations.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a prototype of spondyloarthritis, particularly of the axial form.
Diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis is definite if any of the radiological criterion is associated with at least one clinical criterion.

Ankylosing%20spondylitis Management

Follow Up

  • Follow-up schedule depends on the patient’s disease activity
    • Annual clinic visits are recommended for patients with stable AS
  • At least 1 assessment tool should be used during clinic visits, depending on the disease activity
    • ESR or CRP monitoring at regular intervals is recommended
    • Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning of the spine and hips may be considered for patients at high risk for osteoporosis or osteopenia and in patients with syndesmophytes or spinal fusion
  • Referral to an ophthalmologist is recommended for AS patients with acute iritis

Management

  • For patients with stable AS given combination therapy with NSAIDs and TNF inhibitor upon diagnosis, patients may continue using TNF inhibitor alone as maintenance therapy
    • May reduce dose or increase intervals if remission is maintained and after discussion with the patient
  • Any change in the course of AS (eg spinal fracture) should prompt further investigation especially imaging studies
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