Kirjahaku

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and related diseases called spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are the second most common form of chronic inflammatory arthritis after Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Unfortunately, most patients with AS and SpA are either never diagnosed or inadequately treated. The current mean delay in the diagnosis of AS ranges from 5 to 10 years, and the presenting clinical manifestations of these diseases are wide-ranging and heterogeneous, and thus a variety of health care professionals see AS and SpA patients, from primary care physicians to rheumatologists and other medical and surgical specialists. With the availability of newer, highly effective treatments and better methods of musculoskeletal imaging, such as the MRI, there is an urgent need to improve early diagnosis and reduce any inappropriate delay in obtaining effective treatment. Earlier diagnosis and treatment can mitigate the severity of the disease, and make a meaningful difference for patient care and quality of life. The proposed book is designed for specialists and generalists alike and intended to help expedite accurate diagnoses and initiation of appropriate treatment to alleviate unnecessary suffering. Part of the new Oxford American Rheumatology Library series, this pocket-sized book provides practical, evidence-based information for clinicians to aid diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care for patients with AS and SpA. The book describes pointers to early diagnosis, prognosis, clinical manifestations, socioeconomic aspects, and disease management. It also provides comprehensive coverage of current treatment options, including the latest biologics, as well as non-drug therapies.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), currently grouped under the term axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), is a chronic form of arthritis that causes inflammatory back pain and can gradually result in impaired spinal mobility. It can also cause eye inflammation (uveitis), arthritis of limb joints, inflammation at sites of bony attachments of tendons and ligaments (enthesitis), and associated psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease. No cure has yet been found; however, early diagnosis and proper medical and lifestyle management are very important in reducing the risk of deformity and disability. Written by a leading expert on the subject who himself has been living with AS since age 12, this book provides clear and practical information on the clinical symptoms and signs, underlying causes, genetic predisposition, diagnosis, treatments, and impact on daily life. The combination of scientific knowledge and personal experience results in a unique book which will prove invaluable for patients and their families and friends, as well as allied health professionals and students wishing to know more about the condition. The second edition has been fully updated to cover the tremendous advancements made in the clinical recognition and effective management since the first edition in 2002. It also includes a glossary of medical terms and links to sources of further information to give patients the tools they need to understand and manage the condition effectively.