Spondyloarthritis 2006; The Unmet Needs

描述（由申请人提供）：脊柱关节炎（SpA）包括一组以外周和/或脊柱关节炎症为特征的重叠疾病。这些疾病显示出显著的家族聚集性，并且通常与主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）的HLA基因相关，特别是HLA-B27（1，2）。脊柱关节炎所涵盖的疾病家族包括：1）强直性脊柱炎; 2）先前称为Reiter综合征的反应性关节炎; 3）银屑病关节炎和/或脊柱炎，4）肠病性关节炎和/或脊柱炎（与炎性肠病、溃疡性结肠炎或克罗恩病相关）; 5）幼年型脊柱关节炎和5）未分化的SpA，其包括表达上述疾病之一的要素但未能满足其可接受标准的患者。虽然在分类、遗传学和治疗方面取得了重大进展，但在确定疾病发作的触发因素方面，特别是在进一步确定感染性或肠道触发因素的作用方面，进展较小。类似地，在与SpA的发病机制相关的骨、软骨和关节免疫病理学方面，特别是关于HLA-B27和细胞因子在引发和促进疾病进展中的作用方面，进展很少，这是考虑到疾病对抗TNF阻断剂的显著反应的特别相关的领域。 本申请的目的是为将于2006年3月30日和31日在李斯特山礼堂举行的为期两天的会议申请资金。本次会议的总体目标是汇集几个不同科学领域的专家，以促进AS分类，发病机制和管理的多学科方法。这包括吸引新的科学学科对脊柱关节炎的研究，并加强和扩大现有的研究领域。最终，希望这个论坛将为脊柱关节炎研究提供新的方向，重新定向已建立的领域，并邀请来自脊柱关节炎研究学科内外的已建立的研究人员之间的新合作。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Spondyloarthritis (SpA) encompasses a group of overlapping diseases characterized by inflammation of the peripheral and/or spinal joints. These disorders show striking familial aggregation and are typically associated with HLA genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), particularly HLA-B27 (1, 2). The family of diseases encompassed by Spondyloarthritis includes: 1) ankylosing spondylitis; 2) reactive arthritis known previously as Reiter's syndrome; 3) psoriatic arthritis and/or spondylitis, 4) enteropathic arthritis and/or spondylitis (associated with the inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease); 5) juvenile Spondyloarthritis and 5) undifferentiated SpA, which encompasses patients expressing elements of but failing to fulfill accepted criteria for one of the above diseases. Although significant advances have been made in the areas of classification, genetics and treatment, less progress has been made in defining what triggers disease onset, particularly in further defining the role of infectious or enteric triggers. Similarly, there have been few advances in bone, cartilage and joint immunopathology that relates to the pathogenesis of SpA, particularly as regards the role of HLA-B27 and cytokines in initiating and promoting disease progression, a particularly relevant area given the remarkable response of the disease to anti-TNF blockers. The aim of this application is to request funding for a two day meeting at the Lister Hill Auditorium to be held on March 30 and 31, 2006. The overall goal of this conference is to bring together experts in several different scientific areas to foster multidisciplinary approaches to the classification, pathogenesis and management of AS. This includes the attraction of new scientific disciplines to Spondyloarthritis research and to strengthen and extend existing areas of research. Ultimately it is hope that this forum will provide new directions for Spondyloarthritis research, to redirect established areas and to invite new collaborations between established investigators from areas within and outside the discipline of Spondyloarthritis research.