Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P01889 (ankylosing spondylitis)
 5,717 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Quantitative measurement has led to major advances in the diagnosis, prognosis and management of chronic diseases. Quantitative measures in rheumatic diseases differ from measures in many chronic diseases in several respects. There is no single "gold standard," such as blood pressure or cholesterol, in the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of any rheumatic disease. Laboratory tests are limited; for example, in rheumatoid arthritis > 40% of patients or more have a normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Formal joint counts have poor reliability and are not performed at most visits of most patients. Radiographs are rarely read quantitatively, except in formal clinical trials. The optimal quantitative measures to monitor status and assess long-term prognosis are often derived from patient self-report questionnaires. Quantitative measures may reflect disease activity, e.g., swollen joint counts or C-reactive protein (CRP), long-term damage, e.g., radiographic damage, or poor outcomes, e.g., work disability and premature death. Disease activity measures used in clinical trials are primarily surrogates for long-term outcomes. As there is no single "gold standard" measure, indices of multiple measures are used in patient assessment. Indices used in rheumatoid arthritis assess primarily disease activity, but separate indices have been developed to assess disease activity versus damage in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and vasculitis.
 ...
PMID:Complexities in the quantitative assessment of patients with rheumatic diseases in clinical trials and clinical care. 1627 78

Despite the advances in the pharmacological therapy non-pharmacologic methods and especially therapeutic exercise are a cornerstone in management of spondyloarthritides. In this review studies of various physical therapy programs in ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloarthritides are addressed with emphasis on their benefits and potential indications as well as on limitations in clinical practice and in studying these treatments. Formal physical therapy under the supervision of a physical therapist has been shown to diminish pain and stiffness and to improve posture, mobility, function and quality of life. Apart form land exercises water therapy (including balneotherapy) may be beneficial and in most severe cases, inpatient rehabilitation may be indicated, too. Physicians should implement such non-pharmacological therapy as a part of a comprehensive management strategy. Even though data are not sufficient to determine which specific physical therapy programme should be recommended this review demonstrates that physical therapy is an effective form of intervention and remains an essential part of the management with the importance of emphasis on continued and regular exercise therapy.
 ...
PMID:[Nonpharmacological treatment of patients with spondyloarthritides]. 2223 53