Comorbidities in patients with spondyloarthritis

Chronic inflammatory spondyloarthritis involves axial symptoms of the spine and sacroiliac joints, or peripheral arthritis. Many patients suffer from extra-articular manifestations. With acute anterior uveitis, rapid treatment prevents synechiae. Other organs can be involved. Treatment includes exercise, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (if insufficient response, tumor necrosis factor blockers), and (with peripheral arthritis) sulfasalazine. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis have comorbidities and increased cardiovascular risk. For uveitis or inflammatory bowel disease, patients should be referred to an ophthalmologist or gastroenterologist. Cardiovascular risk may originate from atherosclerotic disease and cardiac manifestations. Epidemiological studies should be conducted before echocardiogram screening and cardiovascular risk management.