Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and related diseases called spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are the second most common form of chronic inflammatory arthritis after Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Unfortunately, most patients with AS and SpA are either never diagnosed, or they are inadequately treated. The current mean delay in the diagnosis of AS ranges from 5 to 10 years, and the presenting clinical manifestations of these diseases are wide-ranging and heterogeneous, and thus a variety of health care professionals see AS and SpA patients, from primary care physicians to rheumatologists and other medical and surgical specialists.

With the availability of newer, highly effective treatments and better methods of musculoskeletal imaging, such as the MRI, there is an urgent need to improve early diagnosis and reduce any inappropriate delay in obtaining effective treatment. Earlier diagnosis and treatment can mitigate the severity of the disease, and make a meaningful difference for patient care and quality of life. The proposed book is designed for specialists and generalists alike, and is intenteded to expedite accurate diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment in order to alleviate unnecessary suffering.

Part of the new Oxford American Rheumatology Library series, this pocket-sized book provides practical, evidence-based information for clinicians to aid diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for patients with AS and SpA. The book provides pointers to early diagnosis, prognosis, clinical manifestations, socioeconomic aspects, and disease management. It also provides comprehensive coverage of current treatment options, including the latest biologics, as well as non-drug therapies.


Epidemiologists will find this a one source book of the different criteria for classification of AS, and of spondyloarthropathies in general. There are excellent tables showing the different treatment response criteria. Students of medicine and rheumatology alike will find the description of these criteria and their temporal updates particularly useful... We commend this book to general physicians and rheumatologists alike. --Nigil Haroon, MBBS, MD, DM, Fellow; Robert D. Inman, MD, FACP, FRCPC, Staff Rheumatologist, University of Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital, Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto J Rheumatol 2010;37:8; doi:10.3899/jrheum.100171