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Línea de investigación
Spondylarthritis.
Spondyloarthritis is a disease that affects the articular and musculoskeletal systems. The spondyloarthritis are characterized by the inflammation of the articulations and their adjacent structures like tendons and ligaments, particularly in the axial skeleton (spine and pelvis); this inflammation is manifested as pain, stiffness, and limitation in trunk movements, especially vending forward or by sides. These symptoms are accompanied by fatigue, impacting the well-being of the patients.
The heterogenicity in the disease presentation can contribute to its difficult diagnosis. The symptoms appear insidiously and bizarre and can last from months to years, with an exacerbation remission pattern, existing moments where there is no pain, and episodes of severe disease. These exacerbations could be triggered by infections, emotional distress, stress inflicted by trauma, fractures, or surgical procedures, among others. The symptoms will also depend on the type of spondylarthritis presented by the patients.
- Psoriatic arthritis.
- Reactive arthritis: There is an inflammation in different articulations because of infection respiratory, urinary, sexually transmitted, or gastrointestinal.
- Anterior uveitis: Inflammation in the anterior aspect of the ocular globe.
- Spondylarthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Where the spinal pain, gluteal pain, and compromise of the peripheral articulations in a patient who has a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.
- Anchylosing spondylitis: This is the prototype disease of the group where the predominant characteristic is the chronic pain and inflammation in the spine that over time and without appropriate treatment causes permanent product of the fusion of the vertebral bodies and its adjacent structures (anchylosis). The radiographic image characteristic of the advanced disease is the “bamboo spine.” Latin American studies have found that this disease presentation is less frequent in our population (less than 20%).
In spondyloarthritis, the symptoms that can be present are pain and inflammation of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, pain, and inflammation of the articulations of the extremities, and pain in the enthesis sites (where the ligament or tendon anchors to the bone). The enthesis frequently involved is in the insertion of the Achilles tendon, the heel (calcaneal spur), and the soles of the feet (plantar fasciitis). Fatigue is the symptom present in every patient it is accompanied by altered sleep because symptoms can be present in the early morning, weight loss, or abdominal pain with stool changes often confounded by irritable bowel.
The disease also can vary in intensity. Sequels present in moderate to severe cases such as limitation in mobility, chronic pain, physical disability, and deformity, among others.
Spondyloarthritis is a rare disease, it is estimated it affects 1.5% of the Colombian population, in other countries it could be less or more frequent.
The earlier the diagnosis, based on the time of appearance of the first symptoms, and starting the appropriate treatment can prevent the chronicity, reduce the alteration of functionality, and improve the well-being of the patient in the long term.
Línea de investigación
Lupus y enfermedades de tejido conectivo
Objetivo de la Línea: Caracterizar las diferentes asociaciones reportadas entre los marcadores inmunológicos, las formas de presentación y el pronóstico de las enfermedades del tejido conectivo.
Logros de la Línea: Caracterizo las formas de presentación y el compromiso cardiaco asociado a la presencia de enfermedad del tejido conectivo y anticuerpos antifosfolípido.
Efectos de la Línea: Estandarizo la técnica y los valores de regencia para los anticuerpos antifosfolípidos menores.
Psoriasis
Objetivo de la Línea: Caracterizar la psoriasis y la artropatía psoriásica en Colombia.
Logros de la Línea: Se ha conformado una cohorte con seguimiento estructurado y sistematizado que permitirá alcanzar los objetivos.
Efectos de la Línea: Trabajo multidisciplinario y multicéntrico que reúne los esfuerzos en pro de mejorar la información en relación con la enfermedad
