Search

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the research, publication activities, and perspectives on clinical practices of rheumatology practitioners during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and methods: The survey-based cross-sectional study was designed online and included 24 closed-ended questions. After performing a pilot test and validation of survey, it was conducted among clinicians between September 2021 and December 2021. Results: One-hundred fifteen clinicians (54 males, 61 females; 78.1% in rheumatology practice for at least five years) responded to the survey. The respondents indicated that they worked in coronavirus-related departments, comprising inpatient service (50.4%), consultancy (42.6%), and outpatient clinic (27.8%). Around 40% of clinicians stated they spent less time on scientific research (43.1%) and clinical learning activities (43.2%), while almost the same proportion of them spent more (41.1% and 45.0%, respectively). This study revealed that 53.5% published at least one paper covering mostly COVID-19 in the scientific citation index (SCI) or SCI-expanded (SCI-E) indexed journals. However, nearly half of them did not have any papers published in the SCI/SCI-E (46.5%) or non-SCI/SCI-E indexed (44.6%) journals. Regarding the perspectives of clinicians about clinical practices, they considered fewer biological (57.0%) and nonbiological (55.0%) drug usage, reported fewer outpatient clinic visits (88.2%), more newly diagnosed rheumatic diseases (62.5%), and more disease exacerbations (31.2%). Most of the clinicians (range, 76.2 to 86.3%) thought they accurately managed their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Clinicians published mostly coronavirus-related papers in the pandemic era, and in the self-assessment, clinicians thought that they correctly manage their patients. In addition, this study reflected the frequency of academic publications and clinicians’ work routines during the pandemic.

Aim: Rheumatic diseases cause economic burden due to apparently costs along with indirect costs including productivity loss. This study aims to assess work productivity in axial spondyloarthritis (SpA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and determine its relation with fatigue, disease activity, depression, and quality of life. Material and Method: This cross-sectional study included 42 SpA, 36 PsA, 34 RA patients, and 30 controls. The number of swollen and tender joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein were recorded. Disease activity was determined by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index for SpA, Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis for PsA, and Disease Activity Score-28 for RA. The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire, Short Form-36, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory were performed. Pain was measured using the Visual Analog Scale. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment scale was administered for work productivity. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting work productivity. Correlations were assessed by Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Results: The rate of employment was 83.3% in SpA, 52.8% in PsA, 61.8% in RA, and 93.3% in controls. The percentage of absenteeism was higher in SpA and PsA. Percentage of presenteeism, percent total work impairment caused by health problems, and percent activity impairment due to health problems were higher in SpA, PsA, and RA patients than controls (p

Background. In clinical practice, it is hard to judge the level of disease activity in some patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who have low traditional acute phase reactant values such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) but have considerable pain and inflammation. The aim of this study is to investigate plasma pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and serum amyloid P (SAP) levels in patients with AS who had normal ESR and CRP but high disease activity. Methods. 100 AS patients and 100 gender- and age-matched controls were included. Epidemiological, clinical, and treatment data and plasma levels of CRP, ESR, PTX3, and SAP were evaluated. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)-CRP were used for evaluating disease activity. Plasma levels of PTX3 and SAP were compared between AS patients and controls and also among AS patients with active and inactive disease. Results. AS patients had significantly higher plasma levels of PTX3 and SAP than controls. There were not any significant correlations between PTX3 and SAP with BASDAI, ASDAS-CRP, and ESR. There was a positive correlation between PTX3 and CRP. No significant difference in plasma levels of PTX3 and SAP was observed between patients with active disease and inactive disease, both with normal ESR and CRP levels. Disease duration and treatment did not influence plasma PTX3 levels. Conclusions. In patients with AS, plasma levels of PTX3 and SAP were found to be elevated when compared to healthy controls. No association was observed between these biomarkers and disease activity.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR) and disease activity, quality of life (QoL), and physical function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 121 RA patients (22 males, 99 females; mean age 57.6±11.2 years; range, 32 to 85 years) applying to Ankara University School of Medicine Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic between January 2019 and February 2019 were included in this cross-sectional study. The inclusion criteria were fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism 2010 RA classification criteria, being over 18 years and accepting to participate in the study. Demographic and clinical parameters including serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CRP and albumin levels were recorded. Disease activity was measured using Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28)-ESR. General health, fatigue, and pain were questioned by means of a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS). The QoL was assessed with the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL) Questionnaire. The functional status was determined using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). RESULTS: Rheumatoid factor (RF) was positive in 56.2% of the patients. The median ESR was 19.0 mm/hour [interquartile range (IQR): 19.5] and median CRP was 5.6 (IQR: 9) mg/L. The median CAR was 1.3 (IQR: 2.1) and median DAS 28-ESR was 3.6 (IQR: 1.5). There was a significant but weak correlation between CAR and DAS28-ESR [p

PURPOSE The aim is to evaluate Achilles tendon enthesopathy with ultrasound (US) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial SpA (nr-axSpA) patients and controls, and compare these groups in terms of associations between disease activity parameters and ultrasonographic Achilles enthesitis signs. METHODS A total of 24 AS and 20 nr-axSpA patients fulfilling the Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Working Group criteria for axSpA and 30 controls were enrolled. Demographic characteristics, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP), human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27, Bath AS Disease Activity Index, Bath AS Functional Index, Bath AS Metrology Index, Maastricht AS Enthesitis Score (MASES), AS Disease Activity Score-CRP, modified Stoke AS Spine Score (m-SASSS) scores and ultrasonographic findings were noted. RESULTS HLA-B27 positivity, extra-articular and peripheral involvement, disease activity, functional status, mean m-SASSS, ultrasonographic gray scale (GS) and total scores were similar between AS and nr-axSpA groups. In GS, tendon echotexture scores were significantly different across all groups (0.812 ± 0.384 in AS, 0.575 ± 0.466 in nr-axSpA, 0.017 ± 0.091 in controls; P

COVID-19 hayatimiza girdigi tarihten beri sosyal hayatimizi, calisma hayatimizi, yasayisimizi, hastabakim hizmetlerini, arastirmalarimizi ve hatta davranis tarzimizi etkiledi. Ustelik bu oyle bir salgin kisadece bir ulkede degil, butun dunya ulkelerinde ayni zamanda ve benzer yogunlukta etkilendi. Adetaulkelerin saglik sistemleri bircok sorunla sinanmistir. Salgin sirasinda bircok bilinmeyen denklem ic iceidi. Salgin basinda o kadar cok bilinmeyenimiz vardi ki hastalara nasil yaklastigimizi, nasil tedavi verecegimizive hangi ilaclarin verilmesi gerektigini henuz net bir sekilde bilmiyorduk. Gecen sure zarfindabircok arastirma ve bircok deneyim bizim hastaliga karsi nasil davranmamiz gerektigini ogretti.Salgin sirasinda bilgi kirliliginin ne kadar zarar verebilir oldugunu yasayarak ogrendik. Ayrica, salginbize asi savaslarini gosterdi. Salgindan kurtulmak icin kullandigimiz asilarin ne kadar degerli oldugunu,gelismis ulkelerin nasil asi savaslarina girdigini ve asilama ile beraber salgin dinamiklerinin nasil degistiginigorduk.2020 ve 2021 yillari salgin yillari olarak tanimlanacaktir. Bu salgin sirasinda saglik calisanlarinindogru bilgilere ulasmasinin cok degerli oldugunu gorduk. Elinizdeki bu kaynak, salgini bizzat yasayarakelde edilen tecrubelerini paylasip olusturulmaya calisilmistir. Kitabin olusturulmasinda emegi olan tumarkadaslarimiza icten tesekkurlerimizi arz ediyoruz. Bu kitabin okuyuculara fayda getirmesini diliyoruz.Bu kitabi, cani pahasina COVID-19 ile savasan ve hayatini kaybeden tum saglik calisanlarina armaganediyoruz.Saglicakla kalin. Prof. Dr. Oguz KARABAYDoc. Dr. Hamad DHEIRDoc. Dr. Selcuk YAYLACI

In this double-blind, controlled, cross-sectional study, we compared structural changes in the cervical vertebrae of patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthropathy (nr-axSpA), patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and a control group. We used the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) to determine whether the involvement of the cervical spine occurs earlier and is more severe than that of the lumbar spine in axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA). A statistically significant difference was found in the total mSASSS between the AS and nr-axSpA groups (p = 0.038), but not in the cervical and lumbar mSASSS. Although the duration of the symptoms was shorter in the nr-axSpA group than in the AS group, no statistically significant difference was found in the cervical mSASSS between the AS and nr-axSpA groups. In both the AS and nr-axSpA groups, the cervical mSASSS values were found to be higher than the lumbar mSASSS values for the majority of the patients (82.8 and 89.5%, respectively). This may indicate that structural changes in the cervical spine occur during an early period of axSpA.

WOS: 000511872800013, PubMed: 31773391, Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis with distinct phenotypic subtypes. Enthesitis is assigned as a hallmark of the disease, given its significant relations to disease activity and quality of life. Our objective is to evaluate the prevalence of enthesitis and its association with some clinical parameters, particularly quality of life, using data from a national registry. Patients with PsA meeting ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) were enrolled by means of a multi-centre Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR) Network Project. The following information was recorded in web-based case report forms: demographic, clinical and radiographic data; physical examination findings, including tender and swollen joint counts (TJC and SJC); nail and skin involvement; Disease Activity Score-28 for Rheumatoid Arthritis with Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (DAS 28-ESR); Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI); Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES); Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI); Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index for the spine (BASRI-s); Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ); Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI); Health Assessment Questionnaire for the spondyloarthropathies (HAQ-s); Psoriatic arthritis quality of Life scale (PsAQoL); Short Form 36 (SF-36); Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS); Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F); and Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) scores. The patients were divided into two groups, namely with and without enthesitis, based on the triple Likert-type physician-reported statement of 'active enthesitis', 'history of enthesitis' or 'none' in the case report forms. Patients with active enthesitis were compared to others in terms of these clinical parameters. A total of 1130 patients were enrolled in this observational study. Of these patients, 251 (22.2%) had active enthesitis according to the clinical assessment. TJC, HAQ-s, BASDAI, FiRST and PsAQoL were significantly higher whereas the SF-36 scores were lower in patients with enthesitis (p < 0.05). Chronic back pain, dactylitis, and tenosynovitis were more frequent in the enthesopathy group (59.4%/39%, 13.1%/6.5% and 24.7%/3.4%, respectively). Significant positive correlations between the MASES score and the TJC, HAQ, DAS 28-ESR, BASDAI, FiRST and PsAQoL scores, and a negative correlation with the SF-36 score were found. When linear regression analysis was performed, the SF-36 MCS and PCS scores decreased by - 9.740 and - 11.795 units, and the FiRST scores increased by 1.223 units in patients with enthesitis. Enthesitis is an important involvement of PsA with significant relations to quality of life determined with PsAQoL and SF-36 scores. Our study found higher frequency of dactylitis and chronic back pain, and worse quality of life determined with SF-36 and PsAQoL scores in patients with enthesitis.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic rheumatic disease associated with reduced quality of life. Obesity is an important clinical problem which may interfere with loss of functioning and quality of life. Obesity is usually an overlooked entity in patients with PsA. Several studies were invastigated prevalence and the impact of obesity on disease activity in patients with PsA, however relationship between psychological status and quality of life have not been evaluated comparatively. Objectives: To assess the impact of obesity on quality of life, psychological status and clinical parameters in patients with PsA. Methods: Patients with PsA were recruited who met CASPAR classification criteria enrolled by Turkish League Against Rheumatism-NETWORK (TLAR-NETWORK) derived from 24 different centers of our country.Patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 were considered obese. Differences among patients with or without obesity were assessed.VAS fatigue, psychological status and health related quality of life measures [SF-36; HAQ; Psoriatic arthritis quality of life (PsAQoL); Hospital Anxiety and Depresson Scale], FACIT-Fatigue, DAS28, BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, Maastrich Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES) and Psoriasis area severity index (PASI) scores were compered between this groups. Results: A total 1130 patients with PsA (36.0% male, 64.0% female) included in this study. In this cohort 37.6% obese and 62.4% non-obese. The presence of peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis, uveitis and spine involvement, PASI scores as well as MASES scores were quite similar between patients with and without obesity. Obese patients had significantly higher scores in VAS fatigue and disease activity, poorer QoL and physical functions compared to non-obese patients (p Conclusion: Obesity associated with the risk of depression and anxiety, fatigue, poorer QoL and higher disease activity.These findings suggest that obesity should be considered while assessing patients with PsA. References [1] Li W,Han J,Qureshi AA.Obesity and risk of incident psoriatic arthritis in US women.Ann Rheum Dis.2012Aug;71(8):1267-72. [2] Klingberg E,Bilberg A,Bjorkman S, et al.Weight loss improves disease activity in patients with psoriatic arthritis and obesity:an interventional study.Arthritis Res Ther.2019Jan11;21(1):17 Disclosure of Interests: Kevser Gok: None declared, Kemal Nas: None declared, Erkan Kilic: None declared, Betul Sargin: None declared, Sevtap Acer Kasman: None declared, Hakan Alkan: None declared, Nilay Sahin: None declared, Gizem Cengiz: None declared, Nihan Cuzdan: None declared, Ilknur Albayrak Gezer: None declared, Dilek Keskin: None declared, Cevriye Mulkoglu: None declared, Hatice Resorku: None declared, Ismihan Sunar: None declared, Ajda Bal Hasturk: None declared, Mehmet Tuncay Duruoz Grant/research support from: Abvie, Speakers bureau: Novartis, AMGEN, Abdi Ibrahim, Ilko, Okan Kucukakkas: None declared, Ozan Volkan Yurdakul: None declared, Meltem Alkan Melikoglu: None declared, Yildiray Aydin: None declared, Figen Ayhan: None declared, Hatice Bodur: None declared, Mustafa Calis: None declared, Erhan Capkin: None declared, Gul Devrimsel: None declared, SAMI HIZMETLI: None declared, Ayhan Kamanli: None declared, Yasar Keskin: None declared, Hilal Kocabas: None declared, Oznur Kutluk: None declared, Nesrin Sen: None declared, Omer Faruk Sendur: None declared, ibrahim tekeoglu: None declared, Murat Toprak: None declared, Sena Tolu: None declared, Tiraje Tuncer: None declared

Background: Axial Spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are chronic, systemic, inflammatory diseases which affect the axial skeleton, limit chest mobility and cause serious impairments in pulmonary functions. Objectives: In this cross-sectional study, as a new approach; diaphragm thickness is assessed by ultrasound in patients with axial SpA to determine possible relationships with pulmonary functions and disease activity. Methods: 49 axial SpA patients enrolled in the study were assessed by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology index (BASMI), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), serum C-Reactive Protein levels (CRP) and chest expansion (cm). 15 patients with lung diseases other than axial SpA pulmonary involvement, neuromuscular diseases, scoliosis and congenital chest deformity were excluded. Dynamic pulmonary function tests (PFT) and 6 min walk (6MW) tests were done and physical activity levels were evaluated by short form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Diaphragm thickness was measured at end expiration (dtFRC) and deep inspiration (total lung capacity (dtTLC)). Thickness ratio (dtr: dtTLC/dtFRC) and thickness change (dtc: dtTLC-dtFRC) were calculated. Results: The descriptive data of the patients are presented in Table 1. Patients had a moderate disease activity and all the patients were category 1 (inactivity) according to IPAQ. Mean value of dtr and PFT seem to be within normal range according to population studies and dtr was significantly correlated with dynamic pulmonary function tests, yet negatively correlated with ESR (r: -0.466, p: 0.006). There was insignificant negative correlation with age, disease duration, BASDAI, BASFI, and BASMI. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the relation between diaphragm thickness and pulmonary functions with disease activity. Even though, there was no limitation in PFT and expected values were obtained in dtr, the negative correlation with ESR makes us think about the possible effect of disease activity on dtr. With these preliminary results, it is early to conclude, but dtr assessment may be complementary to PFT and early measures to improve diaphragm function with specific exercises should be implemented in patients with axial SpA. Reference [1] Carrillo-Esper R, Perez-Calatayud AA, Arch-Tirado E, Diaz-Carrillo MA, Garrido-Aguirre E4, Tapia-Velazco R, Pena-Perez CA, Espinoza-de Los Monteros I, Meza-Marquez JM, Flores-Rivera OI, Zepeda-Mendoza AD, de la Torre-Leon T. Standardization of Sonographic Diaphragm Thickness Evaluations in Healthy Volunteers Respir Care 2016;61(7):920-4 Disclosure of Interests: None declared

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the associations between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), mean platelet volume, and plateletlymphocyte ratio (PLR) with disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis. Patients and methods: The study included 103 patients (63 males, 40 females; mean age 40.7±12.0 years; range 20 to 70 years) with ankylosing spondylitis and 70 healthy controls (43 males, 27 females; mean age 42.7±15.3 years; range 18 to 66 years). All participants’ age, sex, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and mean platelet volume levels, total white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts were recorded while patients’ Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index scores, medication types, duration of disease and medication use were recorded. Patients were divided into three groups: healthy controls (group 1), patients having BASDAI scores

Familial Mediterranean fever is a genetic disorder restricted to certain ethnic groups and marked by acute attacks of serositis and the insidious development of amyloidosis. As well as arthritis, spondyloarthropathy may be encountered in the course of the disease. Vasculitis seems to be an important but not an adequately recognized feature of familial Mediterranean fever. In this article, we present a rare case of coexistence of familial Mediterranean fever, Behcet’s disease and sacroiliitis.

WOS: 000443738600001, PubMed ID: 30632540, Objectives: This study aims to report the assessment of the Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR) expert panel on the compliance and adaptation of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2016 recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Turkey. Patients and methods: The EULAR 2016 recommendations for the treatment of RA were voted by 27 specialists experienced in this field with regard to participation rate for each recommendation and significance of items. Afterwards, each recommendation was brought forward for discussion and any alteration gaining >= 70% approval was accepted. Also, Turkish version of each item was rearranged. Last version of the recommendations was then revoted to determine the level of agreement. Levels of agreement of the two voting rounds were compared with Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In case of significant difference, the item with higher level of agreement was accepted. In case of no difference, the changed item was selected. Results: Four overarching principles and 12 recommendations were assessed among which three overarching principles and one recommendation were changed. The changed overarching principles emphasized the importance of physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists as well as rheumatologists for the care of RA patients in Turkey. An alteration was made in the eighth recommendation on treatment of active RA patients with unfavorable prognostic indicators after failure of three conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Remaining principles were accepted as the same although some alterations were suggested but could not find adequate support to reach significance. Conclusion: Expert opinion of the TLAR for the treatment of RA was composed for practices in Turkish rheumatology and/or physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics.

Background Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an immune-mediated disease affecting skin, joints, entheses, spine, and the vasculature [1,2]. Increased inflammatory mediators are held responsible for impacts on the skin and musculoskeletal system as well as comorbid situations including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome [3]. PTX 3 is an acute phase reactant that has prognostic value for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), vasculitis, and psoriasis that also stands out as a novel biomarker for CVD in new researches [4]. Objectives This study aims to assess the association between PTX 3 levels, disease activity and CVD risk in patients with PsA. Methods A total of 38 PsA patients applying to Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Rheumatology Polyclinic and 32 age and sex-matched controls were enrolled in the study. tender and swollen joint counts, patient9s and doctor9s global assesment on VAS, ESR, CRP, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL were noted. Also body mass index (BMI) and HOMA-IR score were calculated. Carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) was bilaterally assessed by Doppler ultrasound. Results The mean age was 49.5 in patients and 48.9 in controls. Sixty percent of the patients and 50% of controls were female. Of the patients, 15 (39%) used DMARD monotherapy, 8 (21%) used DMARD combination therapies, and 15 (39%) used anti TNF therapies. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of hypertension, LDL levels, and smoking status (p:0.775, p:0.228, p:0.136 respectively). PsA patients had significantly higher BMI scores (p:0.03). Insulin levels and HOMA-IR scores were significantly higher among PsA patients compared to controls (p:0.001, p:0.005). There was statistically significant difference between groups in terms of PTX 3 (p Conclusions Elevated levels of PTX 3 may be associated with cardiovascular involvement in PsA patients independent from the disease activity. This marker might be used for risk prediction for CVD or may represent a target for new therapies. References Braun J. New targets in psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2016 Dec;55(suppl 2). Egeberg A. Psoriasis and comorbidities. Epidemiological studies. Dan Med J.2016 Feb;63(2). Rutter MK, Kane K, Lunt M, et al. Primary care based screening for cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriasis. Br J Dermatol. 2016 Mar 1. Inoue K, Kodama T, Daida H. Pentraxin 3: a novel biomarker for inflammatory cardiovascular disease Int J Vasc Med. 2012;2012:657025. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Aim The purpose of this study was to translate the Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index-5 (RADAI-5), which is a tool for measuring disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, into Turkish language and prove its validity, reliability and sensitivity to changes. Methods Translation from the original German version was performed according to the standardized methods. One hundred and two patients with RA completed in the Turkish RADAI-5 twice within 3 days interval. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability was investigated by calculating Cronbach's alpha and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), respectively. Validity was assessed by analyzing the correlations between the Turkish RADAI-5 and some measurement tools evaluating the disease activity, functional status and quality of life. To test the scale's responsiveness to the changes, another 23 patients with uncontrolled disease activity and three newly diagnosed RA patients completed the RADAI-5 before and after a biologic agent or methotrexate treatment. Results There were no floor or ceiling effects. Cronbach's alpha (0.91) and ICC (0.997) values certified the Turkish version's reliability. Strong correlations between the Turkish questionnaire and Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28), DAS28-CRP, DAS28-three variables, Health Assessment Questionnaire, Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life questionnaire, patient's and doctor's global assessments, tender joint count proved the convergent validity of the scale. Effect size (3.08) demonstrated that the Turkish RADAI-5 is sensitive to the changes. Conclusion The Turkish RADAI-5 is a feasible, reliable and valid questionnaire and sensitive to changes; thus it can be used to monitor disease activity in Turkish RA patients.

Aims: The objective of the present study was to investigate the parameters related to disease activity in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).