Spondyloarthropathies

Question 1

What are spondyloarthropathies?

Answer 1

¢Family of inflammatory arthritides characterized by involvement of both the spine and joints, principally in genetically predisposed (HLA B27 positive) individuals

Question 2

What diseases is HLA-B27 associated with?

Answer 2

Ankylosing spondylitis

Reactive arthritis

Crohn’s disease

Uveitis

Question 3

What disease is HLA-DR4 associated with?

Answer 3

Rheumatoid arthritis

Question 4

What are the four shared features of the spondyloathropathies?

Answer 4

Sacroiliac and spinal involvement

Enthesitis

Inflammatory arthritis

Dactylitis

Question 5

What are the distinguishing features of ankylosing spondylitis?

Answer 5

Primarily affects the spine and in particular, sacroiliac joint involvements

Onset in adolescence/early adulthood

Usually affects men, 3-5:1

Question 6

How is the spine affected in ankylosing spondylitis?

Answer 6

There is fusion of the vertebrae causing it to become straight - ‘bamboo spine’