Spondyloarthritis 2006; The Unmet Needs

描述（由申请人提供）：脊椎关节炎（SpA）包括一组以周围和/或脊柱关节炎症为特征的重叠疾病。这些疾病表现出惊人的家族聚集性，通常与主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）的HLA基因有关，特别是HLA- b27（1,2）。脊柱炎包含的疾病家族包括：1)强直性脊柱炎；2)反应性关节炎，以前称为Reiter综合征；3)银屑病关节炎和/或脊柱炎；4)肠病性关节炎和/或脊柱炎（与炎症性肠病、溃疡性结肠炎或克罗恩病相关）；5)幼年性脊柱炎和5)未分化SpA，包括表现出上述疾病的要素但不符合公认标准的患者。尽管在分类、遗传学和治疗方面取得了重大进展，但在确定疾病发病诱因方面，特别是在进一步确定感染或肠道诱因的作用方面，进展较少。同样，与SpA发病机制相关的骨、软骨和关节免疫病理学也没有什么进展，特别是HLA-B27和细胞因子在启动和促进疾病进展中的作用，鉴于该疾病对抗tnf阻滞剂的显著反应，这是一个特别相关的领域。

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.