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Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a fundamental diagnostic tool in axial spondyloarthritis (SpA), allowing us an earlier diagnosis of the disease compared to radiography. Objective: To compare the performance of a recognition test on SpA MRI lesions and theoretical knowledge, before and after carrying out an educational intervention (hands‐on workshop). We also evaluated whether the successes in the tests were associated with the individual characteristics of the participants. Methods: A test was carried out involving 10 questions (seven for image recognition and three for theoretical knowledge) before and after the attendance to an MRI workshop in SpA performed in different cities in Argentina. The number of correct answers was assessed before and after the workshop; good performance was defined as the achievement of 6 correct answers on average between the pre‐ and post‐test. Participants' characteristics were collected. Results: A total of 106 participants were evaluated. Average of correct answers before and after the workshop were 5.3 and 6.8, respectively (P =.0001); 65% of participants achieved good performance. Performance is not associated with the characteristics of trained physicians. Conclusion: MRI training workshops in SpA allow rheumatologists to improve recognition of acute inflammatory and structural lesions. The long‐term effects of such training need further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some reports describe an increased mortality in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) compared to the general population. The aims of this study were to evaluate the cumulative survival in patients with AS and to establish possible factors associated with mortality. In cross-sectional retrospective study, AS patients were included according to 1984 modified NY criteria, in the 2000-2010 period, the prevalence of mortality was determined by review of medical records, telephone contact, family reports, and death certificates, and it was compared with mortality in Argentina's general population. One hundred twenty-seven patients were studied, 96 (75.6 %) were male, median age 49 years (interquartile range (IQR) 34-60) and median disease duration 8 years (IQR 4-17). During the follow-up period, 9 patients died (7.1 %). The median estimated survival from diagnosis of AS was 39 years (IQR 34-50) and median cumulative survival was 76 years (IQR 74-85). Cardiovascular disease was the most frequent cause of death (5/9 patients). Deceased patients had a mean age and a mean AS disease duration significantly higher than living patients (68.1 ± 12.4 years vs 46.4 ± 15.09 years, p = 0.0001 and 33 ± 13.7 years vs 12 ± 10.7 years, p = 0.001, respectively), higher frequency of total surgeries [3/5 (60 %) vs 5/105 (4.76 %), p = 0.002] and cauda equina syndrome [3/6 (50 %) vs 2/116 (1.72 %), p = 0.001], respectively. Frequency of mortality in AS patients was higher than the crude mortality rate of Argentina's general population in the same period, with cardiovascular cause being the most frequent one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]