Quality indicators, guidelines and outcome measures in ankylosing spondylitis.

The challenge of managing knowledge is a difficult one, and it is no longer enough simply to conduct clinical trials. Quality of care requires the incorporation of research knowledge into clinical practice. As our knowledge of the chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has grown, evidence-based recommendations for the early diagnosis and management of AS and scientifically-derived outcome measures have been developed to aid the clinician at the point of care. Some of these, including the ASAS/EULAR recommendations for the management of AS, are now being validated in national and international studies. This article discusses existing recommendations and the need for specific quality indicators in the field of AS.