Doug is consultant rheumatologist at Waikato DHB and senior lecturer at the University of Auckland. Prior to this, he has practised in Rotorua, Christchurch, Brisbane and in the UK. Since joining the rheumatology department in 2010, Doug has established a clinic for people with ankylosing spondylitis that he runs with physiotherapy and nursing support. He contributes to national and international research on ankylosing spondylitis and is particularly interested in aspects of service provision that influence patient care.
| Inflammatory Arthritis
AbbVie Breakfast Session |
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| Saturday, 14 June 2014 | Start 7:00am | Duration: 60mins | Baytrust |
| Among the inflammatory rheumatic diseases the longest delay between symptom onset and diagnosis is for ankylosing spondylitis. Symptoms commonly begin in the mid-20s and diagnosis is delayed by a mean of 7 years, which can result in considerable disability and loss of productivity. Undoubtedly, delayed presentation by the patients is important and a recent advertising campaign has targeted this issue specifically. However, the considerable challenge faced by primary care physicians in separating the few with inflammatory back pain from the multitude with mechanical back pain should not be neglected. To add to the difficulty, many of those with inflammatory back pain can have normal plain imaging at presentation. Inflammatory back pain will be reviewed, the entity of non-radiographic spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) will be introduced and a referral guideline presented. | |||