TY - JOUR T1 - 2016 update of the ASAS-EULAR management recommendations for axial spondyloarthritis JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases JO - Ann Rheum Dis DO - 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210770 SP - annrheumdis-2016-210770 AU - Désirée van der Heijde AU - Sofia Ramiro AU - Robert Landewé AU - Xenofon Baraliakos AU - Filip Van den Bosch AU - Alexandre Sepriano AU - Andrea Regel AU - Adrian Ciurea AU - Hanne Dagfinrud AU - Maxime Dougados AU - Floris van Gaalen AU - Pál Géher AU - Irene van der Horst-Bruinsma AU - Robert D Inman AU - Merryn Jongkees AU - Uta Kiltz AU - Tore K Kvien AU - Pedro M Machado AU - Helena Marzo-Ortega AU - Anna Molto AU - Victoria Navarro-Compàn AU - Salih Ozgocmen AU - Fernando M Pimentel-Santos AU - John Reveille AU - Martin Rudwaleit AU - Jochen Sieper AU - Percival Sampaio-Barros AU - Dieter Wiek AU - Jürgen Braun Y1 - 2017/01/13 UR - http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2017/01/13/annrheumdis-2016-210770.abstract N2 - To update and integrate the recommendations for ankylosing spondylitis and the recommendations for the use of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) into one set applicable to the full spectrum of patients with axSpA. Following the latest version of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Standardised Operating Procedures, two systematic literature reviews first collected the evidence regarding all treatment options (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) that were published since 2009. After a discussion of the results in the steering group and presentation to the task force, overarching principles and recommendations were formulated, and consensus was obtained by informal voting. A total of 5 overarching principles and 13 recommendations were agreed on. The first three recommendations deal with personalised medicine including treatment target and monitoring. Recommendation 4 covers non-pharmacological management. Recommendation 5 describes the central role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as first-choice drug treatment. Recommendations 6–8 define the rather modest role of analgesics, and disprove glucocorticoids and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for axSpA patents with predominant axial involvement. Recommendation 9 refers to biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) including TNFi and IL-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) for patients with high disease activity despite the use (or intolerance/contraindication) of at least two NSAIDs. In addition, they should either have an elevated C reactive protein and/or definite inflammation on MRI and/or radiographic evidence of sacroiliitis. Current practice is to start with a TNFi. Switching to another TNFi or an IL-17i is recommended in case TNFi fails (recommendation 10). Tapering, but not stopping a bDMARD, can be considered in patients in sustained remission (recommendation 11). The final two recommendations (12, 13) deal with surgery and spinal fractures. The 2016 Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society-EULAR recommendations provide up-to-date guidance on the management of patients with axSpA. ER -