Title:Treat to Target in Spondyloarthritis: The Time has Come
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Author(s): Yasser El Miedany
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Ankylosing spondylitis, disease activity, psoriatic arthritis, remission, treat to target.
Abstract: Recent publications have proposed revisions to disease classification criteria, new definitions of
early diagnosis and remission, as well as guidelines for implementing treat-to-target strategies for the management
of patients with spondyloarthritis. Despite developments leading to this practice-changing approach,
the concept of treat to target for spondyloarthritis has not yet been widely accepted or implemented
in standard clinical care. By placing greater emphasis on clinical features that manifest early in the disease
process, the early and aggressive treatment of the most common forms of spondyloarthritis (namely ankylosing
spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis), has been shown to have favorable patient outcomes in reducing synovial inflammation,
delaying joint damage, and maintaining functional status. This article discusses the recent concept of Treat to
Target in spondyloarthritis and the importance of early diagnosis of both ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis
(PsA). It also highlights the main outcome measures for spondyloarthritis patients achieving treatment goals of low
levels of disease activity or clinical remission.
