PROBLEMS OF SPONDYLOARTHRITIS IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE EULAR-2013 CONGRESS (MADRID, 12–15 JUNE 2013)

Abstract

The EULAR-2013 Congress took place in Madrid on 12–15 June 2013. The problem of spondyloarthritis (SA) was one of the significant aspects at this scientific forum. It should be primarily pointed out that the congress presented a T2T (treat-to-target) initiative to treat this disease. According to this concept, the main goal of SA therapy, as that for rheumatoid arthritis, is remission or low activity although there is no clear definition of these conditions in SA. A con- siderable amount of time was devoted to the results of recent SA pathogenesis investigations, including the role of interleukin 23. Discussions around the proposed SA classification concerning the criteria for mainly axial and periph- eral SAs and their clinical variety did not cease either. Reports on already well-known and novel treatment options and their efficiency during long term follow up held a prominent position at the congress.