Fatigue in ankylosing spondylitis.
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on fatigue in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the tools of its measurement, relation with the other parameters of the disease, treatment and its relation with exercises.


METHODS
Medline, Embase, Pascal and Cochrane library databases were searched with the keywords fatigue, spondyloarthropathy, ankylosing spondylitis, evaluation, assessment, outcome, exercise, and rehabilitation. A total of 21 papers were reviewed.


RESULTS
Fatigue is a frequent complaint of patients with AS. It is assessed mainly on a visual analog scale and is one of the parameters of the disease activity index Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index BASDAI. Fatigue has a strong relation with the other symptoms of AS (stiffness and pain). It is negatively influenced by sleep disorders. Quality of life of these patients is considerably reduced. Anti-TNF therapy seem to ameliorate fatigue more than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy. Regular physical activity is recommended to help alleviate the fatigue.


CONCLUSIONS
No valid, relevant composite tool of multidimensional and multifactorial characters exists to assess fatigue in AS. Treatment such as anti-TNF therapy may facilitate rehabilitation. Regular physical activity helps alleviate fatigue and improves quality of life.
Missaoui
B
B
Service de Rééducation et de Réadaptation de l'Appareil Locomoteur et des Pathologies du Rachis, Faculté de Médecine, Université René-Descartes, Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, France. elisabeth.vinard@cch.aphp.fr
Revel
M
M
D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D011788:Quality of Life; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications*