title: Performance of classification criteria for peripheral spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis in the Leiden Early Arthritis cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The performance of spondyloarthritis (SpA) classification criteria is not well-established in general early arthritis cohorts. Therefore, the authors tested their performance in the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic (EAC) cohort and assessed whether these criteria can assist rheumatologists in diagnosing patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors identified all SpA and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients in the EAC cohort according to the diagnosis of the treating rheumatologist. A control group consisting of arthritis patients with other diagnoses was matched to the SpA and PsA patients on gender, age and symptom duration. The authors assessed the fulfilment of SpA criteria in all three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients in the EAC cohort (n=2011), 7.5% was diagnosed with PsA and 3.8% with SpA. In the PsA group, the ClASsification criteria for Psoratic ARthritis (CASPAR) criteria had the highest sensitivity (88.7%). In the SpA group, the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) peripheral SpA and European Spondylarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) criteria had the highest sensitivity (both 48.7%). Specificity of all criteria sets was good: ranging from 88.5% (ESSG) to 100% (Amor).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In early arthritis, sensitivity of SpA classification criteria is modest except for the CASPAR criteria in PsA. However, specificity of classification criteria, including the new ASAS-peripheral SpA criteria, is high.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rosaline
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Floris
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Gaalen
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Helm-van Mil
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huizinga
authors.forename: Désirée
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van der Heijde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D025241:Spondylarthritis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology