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The concept of spondylarthropathy (SPAP) covers a series of pathologies sharing a common genetic basis and infectious triggers. Objectives. – To present and discuss the prevalence of SPAP in the Coimbra identified skeletal collection, a 19th–20th century Portuguese sample. Materials and methods. – Each of the 505 individuals was macroscopically examined; each joint being assessed for degenerative, inflammatory, ankylosing, entesopathic, traumatic, congenital, infectious, or associated lesions. For the diagnosis of SPAP, besides the criteria proposed by Rogers and Rothschild, it was also applied a new set of criteria established by Martin-Dupont. Associated and differential diagnoses were also discussed. Results. – Using these latter criteria, SPAP was definitely diagnosed in 34 individuals (6.7%), mostly women and elderly individuals. Furthermore, SPAP was diagnosed as probable in 32 (6.3%) and could not be excluded in 98 skeletons (19.4%). Except for the third category, the results were close to those obtained when using the arguments of others authors. Discussion. – The specificity of each criterion is discussed, and the results are precautiously compared with other studies both from past and contemporary samples. Graduating the diagnosis as certain, probable or unexcluded, seems to us of interest, leading to etiological discussion as in clinical practice. Conclusion. – The high prevalence of SPAP achieved for the Portuguese collection might be explained by high exposure to infectious triggers.

Summary – Objectives. To investigate the epidemiology of bone changes related to degenerative joint disease and enthesopathies in the earliest Neolithic population identified in Europe (dated back 7700 years), to compare the findings with those in medieval and contemporary populations, and to draw etiological inferences. Methods. Examination of the skeletal remains of 119 individuals older than 20 years of age at death and buried in two Central European cemeteries dated as far back as 7700 years (5700 BC). Results. The propensity for developingdegenerative disease seemed to vary amongindividuals, as it does today. The hands, shoulder, and hip were common targets of osteoarthritis, as they are today, and the elbow was more likely to be affected in the Neolithic and medieval populations than in contemporary populations. When age of the individuals is taken into account, the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis does not seem to have changed substantially over time. Conclusions. These results attest to the major role of microtrauma in osteoarthritis of the upper limb joints. At the other joints, after correction for age, the prevalence of degenerative disease and the combinations of joint involvements have remained remarkably constant over time, suggesting a major role for genetic factors (bone formers) already present in European populations in the early Neolithic period. Joint Bone Spine 2002 ; 69 : 580-8. © 2002 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS enthesopathies / epidemiology / Neolithic / osteoarthritis / paleopathology