Seronegative spondyloarthritides

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Seronegative spondyloarthritides

Ignazio Olivieri, Astrid van Tubergen, Carlo Salvarani, Sjef van der Linden

p 723-739, Volume 16, Number 5, December 2002

Abstract

Epidemiological studies on the spondyloarthritides have been hindered in the

past by the lack of adequate classification criteria for the whole group of

these diseases. Using the Amor and the European Spondyloathropathy Study

Group (ESSG) criteria the total prevalence of such diseases has been found

to be higher than estimated in the past. The prevalence of ankylosing

spondylitis varies across populations, but closely parallels the frequency

of HLA B27-associated subtypes. The lack of well established criteria for

reactive arthritis and the varying expression of its clinical manifestations

are the principal reasons for the under-reporting of the true prevalence and

incidence of this type of spondyloarthritis. Few data exist on the

prevalence and incidence of psoriatic arthritis. A recent European study on

an inception cohort of patients having inflammatory bowel disease has

evaluated the prevalence of spondyloarthritis using the ESSG criteria. Of

the patients studied, 18% met these criteria. Undifferentiated

spondyloarthritis is one of the most frequent spondyloarthritides. It also

includes a number of different subtypes.