ArticleAnnals of the rheumatic diseases2007
The epidemiology of ankylosing spondylitis and the commencement of anti-TNF therapy in daily rheumatology practice.
Article in Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 2007. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
36 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Upadacitinib for axial spondyloarthritis: a meta-analysis of efficacy and safety.Clinical rheumatology · 2024Pooled it
- [Long version on the S3 guidelines for axial spondyloarthritis including Bechterew's disease and early forms, Update 2019 : Evidence-based guidelines of the German Society for Rheumatology (DGRh) and participating medical scientific specialist societies and other organizations].Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · 2019Guideline
- A systematic review of the factors associated with the initiation of biologicals in patients with rheumatological conditions.European journal of hospital pharmacy : science and practice · 2019Pooled it
- [Treat-to-target (T2T) recommendation for patients with spondyloarthritis - translation into German].Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · 2016Guideline
- Prevalence of peripheral and extra-articular disease in ankylosing spondylitis versus non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: a meta-analysis.Arthritis research & therapy · 2016Pooled it
- Efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy for extra-articular manifestations in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a meta-analysis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2015Pooled it
- [German Society for Rheumatology S3 guidelines on axial spondyloarthritis including Bechterew's disease and early forms: 3 Clinical symptoms].Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie · 2014Guideline
- 2010 update of the ASAS/EULAR recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis.Annals of the rheumatic diseases · 2011Pooled it
- Predicting the outcome of ankylosing spondylitis therapy.Annals of the rheumatic diseases · 2011Trial
- Effectiveness of adalimumab in treating patients with ankylosing spondylitis associated with enthesitis and peripheral arthritis.Arthritis research & therapy · 2010Trial
- Disparities in the access to and use of biologic and targeted synthetic treatments in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: a scoping review.EULAR rheumatology open · 2026Article
- Article
- Predicting extra-musculoskeletal and peripheral manifestations and their role on biologic treatment in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: TReasure experience.Archives of rheumatology · 2025Article
- International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis (IMAS): results from the perspective of 5557 patients from 27 countries around the globe.RMD open · 2024Article
- Alarming serum antiprotease levels in axial spondyloarthritis.Archives of rheumatology · 2024Article
- Epidemiology and Characteristics of Spondyloarthritis in the Predominantly Afro-Descendant Population of Martinique, a French Caribbean Island.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
- Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis of Axial Spondyloarthritis.Journal of clinical rheumatology : practical reports on rheumatic & musculoskeletal diseases · 2021Review
- Hip Replacement in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients with Advanced Hip Involvement: Factors Associated with Bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty.International journal of general medicine · 2021Article
- Targeting the Interleukin-23/Interleukin-17 Inflammatory Pathway: Successes and Failures in the Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis.Frontiers in immunology · 2021Review
- Distinct roles of interleukin-17 and T helper 17 cells among autoimmune diseases.Journal of translational autoimmunity · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThis study aimed to describe the epidemiology of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in rheumatology practice at the beginning of the anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) era, and to evaluate the initiation of anti-TNF therapy in a clinical setting where prescription is regulated by the authority's imposed reimbursement criteria.
methodsBetween February 2004 and February 2005, all Belgian rheumatologists in academic and non-academic outpatient settings were invited to register all AS patients who visited their practice. A random sample of these patients was further examined by an in-depth clinical profile. In a follow-up investigation, we recorded whether patients initiated anti-TNF therapy and compared this to their eligibility at baseline evaluation.
results89 rheumatologists participated and registered 2141 patients; 1023 patients were clinically evaluated. These 847 fulfilled the New York modified criteria for definite AS and 176 for probable AS. The profile of AS in rheumatology practice is characterised by longstanding and active disease with a high frequency of extra-articular manifestations and metrological and functional impairment. At a median of 2 months after the clinical evaluation, anti-TNF therapy was initiated in 263 of 603 (44%) evaluable patients with definite AS and in 22 of 138 (16%) evaluable patients with probable AS (total 38%). More than 85% of the patients who started anti-TNF therapy had an increased Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index despite previous NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) use.
conclusionsOf a representative cohort of 1023 Belgian AS patients seen in daily rheumatology practice, about 40% commenced anti-TNF therapy. Decision factors to start anti-TNF therapy may include disease activity and severity.
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