Challenges of Diagnosis and Management of Axial Spondyloarthritis in North Africa and the Middle East: An Expert Consensus

Overview

Journal J Int Med Res

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2016 Jan 27

PMID 26811411

Citations 13

Authors

Mohammed Hammoudeh

Sultana Abdulaziz

Hanan Alosaimi

Hanan Al-Rayes

Hussam Aldeen Sarakbi

Matouqa Baamer

Xenofon Baraliakos

Chafia Dahou Makhloufi

Nahid Janoudi

Khalid Shirazy

Joachim Sieper

Uppal Sukhbir

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a spectrum of inflammatory disease with stages characterized by both nonradiographic and radiographic sacroiliitis. Nonradiographic axial SpA is associated with health-related quality-of-life impairment and may progress to ankylosing spondylitis. Axial SpA has a low prevalence in some countries in North Africa and the Middle East, and pooling of data and resources is needed to increase understanding of the regional picture. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are required to reduce disease burden and prevent progression. Anti-TNF therapy is recommended for patients with persistently high disease activity despite conventional treatment, and has been shown to be effective in patients without radiographic damage. Diagnostic delays can be an obstacle to early treatment and appropriate referral strategies are needed. In some countries, restricted access to magnetic resonance imaging and anti-TNF agents presents a challenge. In this article, a group of experts from North Africa and the Middle East evaluated the diagnosis and management of axial SpA with particular reference to this region.

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