Updating the 2019 ACR/SAA/SPARTAN Recommendations for the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis (SPARTAN 2024 Annual Meeting Proceedings)

Since the publication of the 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Spondylitis Association of America/Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network (ACR/SAA/SPARTAN) treatment recommendations for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), new evidence has emerged that necessitates a revision of the ACR/SAA/SPARTAN clinical practice guideline (CPG).

An online survey was conducted among SPARTAN members prior to the 2024 Annual Meeting, with 81 members participating. A majority (62%) expressed a preference for treating axSpA as a single entity in the updated CPG, eliminating the distinction between AS and nonradiographic axSpA. Updating the recommendations on pharmacotherapy was considered the top priority, followed by revising recommendations on disease activity monitoring and biosimilar use. Over half of the respondents (58%) rated the 2019 CPG as no more than moderately user-friendly. Key areas for improvement include outdated content, lack of quick reference materials, complex flow charts, and inadequate visual aids.

The survey results indicate strong support among SPARTAN members for treating axSpA as a single entity in the forthcoming update of the ACR/SAA/SPARTAN CPG. Additionally, there is demand for a more user-friendly guideline document.