Ann Rheum Dis

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER
[Advanced]

Published Online First: 26 August 2005. doi:10.1136/ard.2005.041137
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2006;65:442-452
Copyright © 2006 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & European League Against Rheumatism

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
ard.2005.041137v1
ard.2005.041137v2
65/4/442    most recent
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Read responses to this article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this link to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Add article to my folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Zochling, J
Right arrow Articles by Braun, J
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Zochling, J
Right arrow Articles by Braun, J

EXTENDED REPORT

ASAS/EULAR recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis

J Zochling 1, D van der Heijde 2, R Burgos-Vargas 3, E Collantes 4, J C Davis, Jr 5, B Dijkmans 6, M Dougados 7, P Géher 8, R D Inman 9, M A Khan 10, T K Kvien 11, M Leirisalo-Repo 12, I Olivieri 13, K Pavelka 14, J Sieper 15, G Stucki 16, R D Sturrock 17, S van der Linden 2, D Wendling 18, H Böhm 19, B J van Royen 20, J Braun 21

1 Rheumazentrum-Ruhrgebiet, St Josefs-Krankenhaus, Herne, Germany, and Institute of Bone and Joint Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
2 Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University Hospital Maastrict and Caphri Research Institute, The Netherlands
3 Department of Rheumatology, Hospital General de Mexico, Mexico
4 Servicio de Reumatologia, Hospital Reina Sofia, Cordoba, Spain
5 Division of Rheumatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
6 Department of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
7 Service de Rheumatologie B, Hospital Cochin, Paris, France
8 Department of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
9 Toronto Western Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
10 Case Western Reserve University, University, MetroHealth Medical Center, Division of Rheumatology, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
11 Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
12 Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
13 Rheumatology Department of Lucania, S Carlo Hospital, Potenza and Madonna delle Grazie Hospital, Matera, Italy
14 Institute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic
15 Department of Gastroenterology and Rheumatology, Charitè, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
16 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
17 Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, University Department of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK
18 Service de Rhumatologie, CHU Jean Minjoz, Besancon, France
19 Department for Orthopaedics, Spinal Surgery and Paraplegiology, Zentralklinik Bad Berka, Bad Berka, Germany
20 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
21 Bochum University, Rheumazentrum-Ruhrgebiet, St Josefs-Krankenhaus, Herne, Germany

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor J Braun
Rheumazentrum-Ruhrgebiet, St Josefs-Krankenhaus, Landgrafenstr 15, 44652 Herne, Germany; J.Braun{at}rheumazentrum-ruhrgebiet.de

Objective: To develop evidence based recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) as a combined effort of the ‘ASsessment in AS’ international working group and the European League Against Rheumatism.

Methods: Each of the 22 participants was asked to contribute up to 15 propositions describing key clinical aspects of AS management. A Delphi process was used to select 10 final propositions. A systematic literature search was then performed to obtain scientific evidence for each proposition. Outcome data for efficacy, adverse effects, and cost effectiveness were abstracted. The effect size, relative risk, number needed to treat, and incremental cost effectiveness ratio were calculated. On the basis of the search results, 10 major recommendations for the management of AS were constructed. The strength of recommendation was assessed based on the strength of the literature evidence, risk-benefit trade-off, and clinical expertise.

Results: The final recommendations considered the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (conventional NSAIDs, coxibs, and co-prescription of gastroprotective agents), disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, treatments with biological agents, simple analgesics, local and systemic steroids, non-pharmacological treatment (including education, exercise, and physiotherapy), and surgical interventions. Three general recommendations were also included. Research evidence (categories I–IV) supported 11 interventions in the treatment of AS. Strength of recommendation varied, depending on the category of evidence and expert opinion.

Conclusion: Ten key recommendations for the treatment of AS were developed and assessed using a combination of research based evidence and expert consensus. Regular updating will be carried out to keep abreast of new developments in the management of AS.


Abbreviations: AS, ankylosing spondylitis; ASAS, ASsessment in AS; CI, confidence interval; DMARDs, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs; ES, effect size; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NRS, numerical rating scale; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; OA, osteoarthritis; RCT, randomised controlled trial; THA, total hip arthroplasty; TNF, tumour necrosis factor; VAS, visual analogue scale

Keywords: ankylosing spondylitis; management; recommendations; evidence based medicine; spondyloarthropathies; ASAS; EULAR




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
J. Braun and J. Sieper
What is the most important outcome parameter in ankylosing spondylitis?
Rheumatology, September 16, 2008; (2008) ken357v1.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
M Rudwaleit, S Schwarzlose, E S Hilgert, J Listing, J Braun, and J Sieper
MRI in predicting a major clinical response to anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment in ankylosing spondylitis
Ann Rheum Dis, September 1, 2008; 67(9): 1276 - 1281.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
S. G. Dubey, J. Leeder, and K. Gaffney
Physical therapy in anti-TNF treated patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Rheumatology, July 1, 2008; 47(7): 1100 - 1101.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
L Gossec, M Dougados, C Phillips, M Hammoudeh, K de Vlam, K Pavelka, T Pham, J Braun, J Sieper, I Olivieri, et al.
Dissemination and evaluation of the ASAS/EULAR recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis: results of a study among 1507 rheumatologists
Ann Rheum Dis, June 1, 2008; 67(6): 782 - 788.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
R. R. Wick, E. A. Nekolla, M. Gaubitz, and T. L. Schulte
Increased risk of myeloid leukaemia in patients with ankylosing spondylitis following treatment with radium-224
Rheumatology, June 1, 2008; 47(6): 855 - 859.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
P. I. Sidiropoulos, G. Hatemi, I.-H. Song, J. Avouac, E. Collantes, V. Hamuryudan, M. Herold, T. K. Kvien, H. Mielants, J. M. Mendoza, et al.
Evidence-based recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis: systematic literature search of the 3E Initiative in Rheumatology involving a broad panel of experts and practising rheumatologists
Rheumatology, March 1, 2008; 47(3): 355 - 361.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
J Sieper, T Klopsch, M Richter, A Kapelle, M Rudwaleit, S Schwank, E Regourd, and M May
Comparison of two different dosages of celecoxib with diclofenac for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis: results of a 12-week randomised, double-blind, controlled study
Ann Rheum Dis, March 1, 2008; 67(3): 323 - 329.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
H. C. Brandt, I. Spiller, I.-H. Song, J. L Vahldiek, M. Rudwaleit, and J. Sieper
Performance of referral recommendations in patients with chronic back pain and suspected axial spondyloarthritis
Ann Rheum Dis, November 1, 2007; 66(11): 1479 - 1484.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
E. Lubrano, S. D'Angelo, W. J. Parsons, G. Corbi, N. Ferrara, F. Rengo, and I. Olivieri
Effectiveness of rehabilitation in active ankylosing spondylitis assessed by the ASAS response criteria
Rheumatology, November 1, 2007; 46(11): 1672 - 1675.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
B. V. Cruyssen, C. Ribbens, A. Boonen, H. Mielants, K. de Vlam, J. Lenaerts, S. Steinfeld, F. Van den Bosch, L. Dewulf, and N. Vastesaeger
The epidemiology of ankylosing spondylitis and the commencement of anti-TNF therapy in daily rheumatology practice
Ann Rheum Dis, August 1, 2007; 66(8): 1072 - 1077.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
R. M. Ara, A. V. Reynolds, and P. Conway
The cost-effectiveness of etanercept in patients with severe ankylosing spondylitis in the UK
Rheumatology, August 1, 2007; 46(8): 1338 - 1344.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
R. N. Jois, K. Gaffney, and A. Keat
Anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy for ankylosing spondylitis--unresolved issues
Rheumatology, June 1, 2007; 46(6): 899 - 901.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
J. Braun, N. McHugh, A. Singh, J. S. Wajdula, and R. Sato
Improvement in patient-reported outcomes for patients with ankylosing spondylitis treated with etanercept 50 mg once-weekly and 25 mg twice-weekly
Rheumatology, June 1, 2007; 46(6): 999 - 1004.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
H Haibel, H C Brandt, I H Song, A Brandt, J Listing, M Rudwaleit, and J Sieper
No efficacy of subcutaneous methotrexate in active ankylosing spondylitis: a 16-week open-label trial
Ann Rheum Dis, March 1, 2007; 66(3): 419 - 421.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
O. Distler, F. Behrens, D. Huscher, I. Foeldvari, A. Zink, P. Nash, C. P. Denton, M. Humbert, M. Matucci-Cerinic, J. Seibold, et al.
Need for improved outcome measures in pulmonary arterial hypertension related to systemic sclerosis
Rheumatology, December 1, 2006; 45(12): 1455 - 1457.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
J A Simon and R Burgos-Vargas
Agreement of Mexican rheumatologists with the ASsessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis International Working Group and the EUropean League Against Rheumatism recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis.
Ann Rheum Dis, November 1, 2006; 65(11): 1535 - 1536.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
M M Ward
Outcomes in ankylosing spondylitis: what makes the assessment of treatment effects in ankylosing spondylitis different?
Ann Rheum Dis, November 1, 2006; 65(suppl_3): iii25 - iii28.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
W Zhang, M Doherty, T Bardin, E Pascual, V Barskova, P Conaghan, J Gerster, J Jacobs, B Leeb, F Liote, et al.
EULAR evidence based recommendations for gout. Part II: Management. Report of a task force of the EULAR Standing Committee For International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutics (ESCISIT)
Ann Rheum Dis, October 1, 2006; 65(10): 1312 - 1324.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
J Braun, J Zochling, X Baraliakos, R Alten, G Burmester, K Grasedyck, J Brandt, H Haibel, M Hammer, A Krause, et al.
Efficacy of sulfasalazine in patients with inflammatory back pain due to undifferentiated spondyloarthritis and early ankylosing spondylitis: a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Ann Rheum Dis, September 1, 2006; 65(9): 1147 - 1153.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Br. J. Sports. Med.Home page
W Zhang and M Doherty
EULAR recommendations for knee and hip osteoarthritis: a critique of the methodology
Br. J. Sports Med., August 1, 2006; 40(8): 664 - 669.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
J Zochling, D van der Heijde, M Dougados, and J Braun
The process of producing recommendations for rheumatic diseases: what is evidence?
Ann Rheum Dis, July 1, 2006; 65(7): 979 - 979.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Ann Rheum DisHome page
J Zochling, D van der Heijde, M Dougados, and J Braun
Current evidence for the management of ankylosing spondylitis: a systematic literature review for the ASAS/EULAR management recommendations in ankylosing spondylitis
Ann Rheum Dis, April 1, 2006; 65(4): 423 - 432.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Looking for evidence for established facts?
Bozidar Curkovic, et al.
Ann Rheum Dis Online, 21 Sep 2005 [Full text]
Comment on "ASAS/EULAR recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis "
Nurullah Akkoc
Ann Rheum Dis Online, 19 Apr 2006 [Full text]



HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER
Terms and conditions relating to subscriptions purchased online  ¦  Website terms and conditions  ¦  Privacy policy
Copyright © 2006 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & European League Against Rheumatism