Does height influence the assessment of spinal and hip mobility measures used in ankylosing spondylitis?

Objective: It is not known if height contributes to the variability in mobility measures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and whether any measures should be reported corrected for height. We examined the contribution of height to the variability of mobility measures in patients with a diverse spectrum of AS disease.

Methods: We assessed the 9 mobility measures comprising the Bath AS and Edmonton AS Metrology Indices (BASMI and EDASMI) in a total of 205 patients.

Development and validation of the Edmonton Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index.

Objective: Assessment of spinal and hip mobility has been recommended by the Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Working Group for clinical trials and record keeping, although suggested measures primarily reflect structural damage. Our objective was to validate a simple, 4-item composite measure of spinal and hip mobility, the Edmonton AS Metrology Index (EDASMI).

Methods: We assessed the EDASMI and the Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) using a total of 263 patients from 3 countries: Canada (n = 205), Australia (n = 29), and Colombia (n = 29).

Infliximab in ankylosing spondylitis: a prospective observational inception cohort analysis of efficacy and safety.

Objective: Infliximab, a neutralizing antibody to tumor necrosis factor-alpha, appears to be effective therapy in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), although treatment is costly and serious infections are an increasing concern. We investigated the efficacy and tolerability of infliximab in a prospective observational inception cohort of patients with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-refractory AS seen in both university and community based practice. We also used a lower dose, 3 mg/kg, than has been evaluated to date in AS.