Publications by authors named "Maria A C van der Weijden"
The aim of this cohort study was to evaluate the long-term effects of TNF inhibitors (TNFis) on BMD and the incidence of vertebral fractures (VFxs) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Consecutive patients with active AS with TNFi treatment duration up to 4 years with available DXA scans and spine X-rays were included. BMD (classified according to the WHO criteria for osteoporosis) of the hip and lumbar spine, the VFx (classified as a Genant score >1/>20% height loss), and radiological progression (modified stoke ankylosing spondylitis spinal score [mSASSS]) scores were obtained at baseline and at 4 years of TNFi treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is characterized by chronic inflammation leading to ankylosis, but also to low bone mineral density (BMD) and vertebral fractures (VFx). Treatment with tumor necrosis factor-α blockers decreases inflammation and has shown to be effective in increasing BMD. We studied the effects of etanercept (ETN) on BMD and VFx in patients with AS after 2 years of treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To explore the effect of early spondyloarthritis (SpA) on worker participation and to investigate variables associated with work outcomes as well as the effect on resource use.
Methods: Patients included in an early SpA cohort completed a questionnaire comprising items on employment status, sick leave, presenteeism, and resource use. Logistic regressions were used to investigate the associations between work status and clinical characteristics, and linear regressions were used to investigate the association between at-work productivity loss and clinical characteristics.