2010 update of the ASAS/EULAR recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis.

This first update of the ASAS/EULAR recommendations on the management of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is based on the original paper, a systematic review of existing recommendations and the literature since 2005 and the discussion and agreement among 21 international experts, 2 patients and 2 physiotherapists in a meeting in February 2010. Each original bullet point was discussed in detail and reworded if necessary. Decisions on new recommendations were made - if necessary after voting. The strength of the recommendations (SOR) was scored on an 11-point numerical rating scale after the meeting by email. These recommendations apply to patients of all ages that fulfill the modified NY criteria for AS, independent of extra-articular manifestations, and they take into account all drug and non-drug interventions related to AS. Four overarching principles were introduced, implying that one bullet has been moved to this section. There are now 11 bullet points including 2 new ones, one related to extra-articular manifestations and one to changes in the disease course. With a mean score of 9.1 (range 8-10) the SOR was generally very good.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis report greater physical functional deterioration in lower limbs compared to upper limbs over 10 years.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the overall magnitude of change in self-reported physical function over a 10-year period in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to compare changes in physical function between the lower and upper limbs. METHODS: Self-reported data on physical function were collected from the patients in the Oslo RA register (ORAR) through mail surveys between 1994 and 2004. The change in overall physical function was measured by the Short Form 36 (SF-36), the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ), and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS2). The MHAQ and AIMS2 were used to address activities related to lower and upper limb function. The magnitude of changes was expressed as crude and adjusted changes and standardized response means (SRMs). The analyses were adjusted for age, sex, duration of disease, and number of surgical procedures in the lower and upper limbs. RESULTS: A total of 414 patients [323 (78%) females, mean age 54.9 years and median disease duration 11.6 years] were included in these analyses. The overall physical function measured by AIMS2 physical and MHAQ deteriorated during 10 years. The magnitude of change in physical function was generally worse for activities related to lower limbs (SRM for adjusted changes 0.16-0.27) than upper limbs (SRM 0.06-0.08). During the 10-year follow-up period, 231 patients (56%) underwent orthopaedic surgery because of their RA. Findings were consistent after adjusting for surgical procedures. CONCLUSION: Patient-reported lower limb function deteriorated more than upper limb function over a 10-year period in patients with established RA.