Abstract
BackgroundTo aim was to investigate the additional value of incorporating the de Vlam cervical facet joint score in the modified ankylosing spondylitis (AS) spine score (mSASSS) for the evaluation of spinal radiographic outcome in AS.MethodBaseline and 4-year radiographs from 98 consecutive patients from the Groningen Leeuwarden AS (GLAS) cohort, who had AS treated with TNF-α inhibitors, were scored by two readers; the vertebral bodies were assessed according to the mSASSS (0–72) and cervical facet joints (C2–C7) were assessed according to the method of de Vlam (0–15). The combined AS spine score (CASSS) was calculated as the sum of both total scores (range 0–87) and compared with the original mSASSS according to three aspects of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) filter: feasibility, discrimination, and truth.ResultsFeasibility: the CASSS was calculated in 91% of the patients. No additional radiographs were necessary and the assessment took only a few extra minutes. Discrimination: both scoring methods had excellent inter-observer reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) status scores >0.99, progression scores 0.92). Incorporating the cervical facet joints did not result in an increase in measurement error. The CASSS detected more patients with definite damage (61% vs. 57%) and definite progression (55% vs. 48%). Truth: higher CASSS scores at baseline and higher progression scores were seen in 41 (46%) and 22 (25%) patients, respectively. Cervical rotation correlated better with cervical CASSS than with cervical mSASSS (Spearman’s rho = 0.68 vs. 0.59).ConclusionsThe CASSS is a relevant and easy modification of the mSASSS. It captures more patients with AS who have spinal radiographic damage and progression, which is of great additional value in the evaluation of radiographic outcome in this heterogeneous and overall slowly progressing disease.
Highlights
To aim was to investigate the additional value of incorporating the de Vlam cervical facet joint score in the modified ankylosing spondylitis (AS) spine score for the evaluation of spinal radiographic outcome in AS
In our recent study in 99 patients with AS treated with Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, we found that the majority of patients who developed new ankylosis of the cervical facet joints did not develop new syndesmophytes in the cervical spine [12]
The Groningen Leeuwarden AS (GLAS) cohort was approved by the local ethics committees of the Medical Center Leeuwarden (MCL) and the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), and all patients gave written informed consent according to the Declaration of Helsinki
Summary
To aim was to investigate the additional value of incorporating the de Vlam cervical facet joint score in the modified ankylosing spondylitis (AS) spine score (mSASSS) for the evaluation of spinal radiographic outcome in AS. The modified Stoke AS spine score (mSASSS) is found to be the best and most widely used scoring method to assess evidence of spinal damage on conventional radiographs in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies [2]. This scoring method includes the anterior elements of the cervical and lumbar spine. SDC refers to the change in scores that can be detected without measurement error [5] This indicates that the mean observed progression at the group level might be a result of measurement error instead of representing “real” progression. For progression over a time period ≥4 years, the SDC was smaller than the mean progression suggesting that at least 4 years of follow up is needed for sufficient discriminatory power of the mSASSS to detect changes
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