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  • Review Article
  • Published:

Tools for monitoring spondyloarthritis in clinical practice

Abstract

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) usually follows a chronic disease course that requires regular medical care and monitoring to control for increased disease activity and to maintain physical function. This Review describes the instruments and imaging techniques available for monitoring SpA in clinical practice. Specifically, questionnaires, physical examination and laboratory tests that can be used to measure physical function, disease activity and pain are discussed. Furthermore, the value of different imaging techniques, including conventional radiography, MRI and ultrasonography, for use in the clinic is described. In the past decade, most of the work on standardizing the monitoring of outcome measures in SpA has focused on ankylosing spondylitis, and similar developments are currently in progress for the monitoring of psoriatic arthritis. This Review, therefore, will focus on these disorders.

Key Points

  • Recommendations for monitoring spondyloarthritis (SpA) activity and function in clinical practice are available for ankylosing spondylitis and are in development for psoriatic arthritis

  • Patients with SpA should be routinely evaluated for spinal and peripheral joint involvement, enthesitis and dactylitis, and at least once-yearly for disease activity, function and spinal mobility

  • Conventional radiography remains the imaging technique of choice for SpA, both for diagnostic and monitoring purposes

  • MRI and ultrasonography can provide additional information on the presence and severity of inflammation, especially when radiographs are negative or inconclusive

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van Tubergen, A., Landewé, R. Tools for monitoring spondyloarthritis in clinical practice. Nat Rev Rheumatol 5, 608–615 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2009.207

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