“A book like this can help raise
the level of awareness and sharpen
the research focus. It can also
improve the clinical confidence
of a clinician,” Dr. Inman says
of the publication, adding that
it is designed to improve the
understanding, diagnosis and
treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis.
Axial spondyloarthritis is an
umbrella term that describes
a range of chronic diseases
associated with inflammatory
arthritis of the spine. “This is the
first textbook dedicated to the subject
of Axial Spondyloarthritis,”
Dr. Inman says. “It has a very
multinational authorship and
comes at a time when recognition
of this disease entity is coming
into its own.”
More than 50 contributors
A total of 52 researchers and
clinicians from around the world
contributed to the book, among
them several from TWH, including
Dr. Dafna Gladman, a Psoriatic
Arthritis expert, Dr. Raj Rampersaud,
Spine Surgeon, Laura Passalent,
Physiotherapist, and Dr. Nigil
Haroon, who is Co-Director of
the Spondylitis Program at UHN.
The textbook is designed to serve
as a roadmap for the early diagnosis,
recognition and treatment of the
disease and to provide a detailed
overview of new concepts of disease
mechanisms specifically related to
genetics, immunology, improved
outcome measures and novel
therapeutic targets.
“Back pain in the general population
is so common now that it is important
that clinicians have ready access to
the latest knowledge,” says Dr. Inman.
The use of MRI, he adds, has given
investigators much greater insight
into inflammation in the sacroiliac
joints, which anchor the spine in
the pelvis.
The Spondylitis Program at
TWH has taken a leadership role
in the investigation and treatment
of Axial Spondyloarthritis. The
program has a high international
profile, but one of Dr. Inman’s
goals for the textbook was to bring
a global perspective on the disease.
‘A great, knowledgeable group’
Dr. Inman credits a “fantastic”
collaborative environment and
the multidisciplinary team at
TWH for advancing greater
understanding of the disease
worldwide.
“It’s a great, knowledgeable
group which is second to none
on a global scale.” I am constantly
learning from my colleagues.
It’s also a lot of fun.
Content courtesy of UHN News.
