The management of the spondyloarthritis family of diseases has changed significantly over the last 10 years, Improved knowledge of disease pathogenesis, evidence about the effectiveness of early diagnosis, and the routine use of biologic agents, have all improved patient outcomes. This article aims to help GPs recognise spondyloarthritic diseases, improve confidence in primary care management and referral, and provide a summary of the 2017 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. Disease labels in inflammatory disease have changed significantly over the last decade, which often leads to confusion. Spondyloarthritis is the term for the family of diseases that affect not only the joints but also the entheses, the sites where tendons and ligaments join to bone. Inflammation at the enthesis is known as enthesitis, and this is the hallmark pathological finding of the spondyloarthritis family. Spondyloarthritis can predominantly affect the back and pelvis, which is known as axial spondyloarthritis (Ax-SpA), or can mainly affect peripheral joints (peripheral SpA).
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