Spondyloarthritis

Abstract

Spondyloarthritis is a group of diseases related but different clinical expression: psoriatic arthritis, arthritis of inflammatory bowel disease, reactive arthritis, a subgroup of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (the prototypic and best studied). In the last five years there have been significant advances in several areas to help better recognition of spondyloarthritis as a clinical entity and its classification. A better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms and genetic factors related to inflammation and structural damage. In addition, new clinical and imaging results are allowing a better assessment of treatment options. These continue to highlight biological therapies, especially the blocking tumor necrosis factor alpha and therapeutic breakthrough, however the exact role of physiotherapy, treatment with NSAIDs and other biological treatments are still not known intimately. The main challenges with direct application to clinical practice for the next decade are the development of tools for early diagnosis of treatment can modulate (or inhibit) the progression of structural damage and induce long-term remissions without treatment.