[Ankylosing spondylitis. Target treatment criteria]

The spondyloarthritides (SpA) have various clinical signs and symptoms in common: spinal inflammation, enthesitis, uveitis, and an at least partial common genetic factor such as the association with HLA B27. In addition to ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the most prevalent and important subtype, there are four other subtypes. The currently available and frequently used outcome parameters in the therapy of AS are discussed in this article. There are different areas for the potential aims of therapy in AS. The term disease activity usually covers the various aspects of a systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease. Pain is what usually matters most for patients but also morning stiffness can be quite disabling. In AS patients, restrictions in spinal mobility and decreased function are also significant, due in part to inflammation and structural changes, respectively. As represented in the international classification of function (ICF) this mainly relates to the structure of the axial skeleton, the spinal column and the vertebral bodies, vertebral joints, discs, attachments of ligaments to bone and tendons.