The association between Disease Activity Score and rheumatoid arthritis-associated cervical deformity: radiological evaluation of the BeSt trial.

OBJECTIVE: The authors' objective was to evaluate the association of the Disease Activity Score (DAS) with cervical spine deformity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients during 10-year optimal treatment of systemic disease. METHODS: The authors evaluated radiological and 10-year follow-up (FU) data of the BeSt (BehandelStrategien) trial. In 272 RA patients, atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS), presence of vertical translocation (VT), and subaxial subluxation (SAS) were evaluated. The associations of these deformities with DAS, self-assessed health (determined with the Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ]), and erosions of the hands and feet (Sharp-Van der Heijde score) were studied. RESULTS: After 10 years of FU, AAS (> 2 mm neutral position) was observed in 62 patients (23%), AAS (≥ 3 mm in flexion) in 24%, AAS (≥ 5 mm in flexion) in 7%, VT did not occur, and SAS was present in 60 patients (22%). In total, 135 patients (50%) were in remission (DAS < 1.6) at 10 years of FU. No association could be established between AAS and DAS. Patients with cervical spine deformity (AAS > 2 mm and/or SAS) at 10 years had a higher HAQ score at 10 years than patients without cervical spine deformity (HAQ scores of 0.65 and 0.51, respectively, p = 0.04; 95% CI -0.29 to 0.00). CONCLUSIONS: Even though 50% of patients were in remission after 10 years and the BeSt trial was designed to optimize treatment, 40% of patients developed at least mild RA-associated cervical spine deformity and 7% developed significant AAS. This indicates that even in this era of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologicals, cervical deformity is prevalent among patients with RA and should not be neglected in patient treatment plans and information.

The Influence of Reducing Disease Activity Score on Cervical Spine Deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause deformity in particularly the craniocervical but also in the lower cervical region. Objectives: The aim of this study is to give an overview of current literature on the association of disease activity score (DAS) and the prevalence and progression of rheumatoid arthritis-associated cervical spine deformities. Methods: A literature search was done in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science using a sensitive search string combination (Supplemental File). Studies describing the association between DAS and the incidence and progression of atlantoaxial subluxation, vertical subluxation, and subaxial subluxation were selected by predefined selection criteria, and risk of bias was assessed using a Cochrane checklist adjusted for this purpose. Results: Twelve articles were retrieved, and risk of bias on study level was low to moderate. In the eight longitudinal studies, patients demonstrated high DAS at baseline, which decreased upon treatment with medication: cervical deformity at the end of follow-up was associated with higher DAS values. The four cross-sectional studies did not demonstrate a straightforward correlation between DAS and cervical deformity. Deformity progression was evaluated in three studies, but no convincing association with DAS was established. Conclusion: A positive association between prevalence of cervical spine deformities and high disease activity was demonstrated, but quality of evidence was low. Progression of cervical deformity in association with DAS control over time is only scarcely studied, and future investigations should focus on halting of deformity progression.

The long term outcome of micturition, defecation and sexual function after spinal surgery for cauda equina syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a rare neurologic complication of lumbar herniated disc for which emergency surgical decompression should be undertaken. Despite the common belief that the restoration of functions that are affected by CES can take several years postoperatively, follow up seldom exceeds the first year after surgery. Long term outcome of especially micturition, defecation and sexual function-which are by definition affected in CES-are unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate 1) postoperative long term outcome of micturition, defecation and sexual function in CES patients 2) attitude of patients towards received hospital care with regard to (recovery of) these functions. METHODS: CES patients were selected by screening the records of all patients operated on lumbar herniated disc in our university hospital between 1995-2010. A questionnaire was sent to the selected CES patients evaluating current complaints of micturition, defecation and sexual function and attitude towards delivered care with focus on micturition, defecation and sexual function. RESULTS: Thirty-seven of 66 eligible CES patients were included (response rate 71%, inclusion rate 56%). Median time after surgery was 13.8 years (range 5.8-21.8 years). Dysfunction at follow up was highly prevalent: 38% micturition dysfunction, 43% defecation dysfunction and 54% sexual dysfunction. Younger age at presentation was associated with sexual dysfunction at follow up: for every year younger at presentation, odds ratio for sexual dysfunction at follow up was 1.11 (p = 0.035). Other associations with outcome were not identified. Two-third of the CES patients wished their neurosurgeon had given them more prognostic information about micturition, defecation and sexual function. CONCLUSION: The presented data demonstrate that dysfunction of micturition, defecation and sexual function are still highly prevalent in a large number of CES patients even years postoperatively. These alarming follow up data probably have a devastating effect on personal perceived quality of life, which should be studied in more detail. CES patients communicate a clear demand for more prognostic information. The presented figures enable clinicians to inform their CES patients more realistically about long term postoperative outcome of micturition, defecation and sexual function after surgical intervention.