Letter to the editor re: prevalence, demographics, and clinical characteristics of Latin American patients with spondyloarthritis

Abstract

Dear Editor, We have read with great interest the article “Prevalence, demographics, and clinical characteristics of Latin American patients with spondyloarthritis” by Gustavo Citera et al. The authors carry out a depth analysis of the current state of spondyloarthritis (SpA), including psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the region. Covering from epidemiology, clinical manifestations and treatment [1]. We want to highlight the final message of the article, were the authors identified several gaps in the literature on SpA in the region. They emphasis the need for more consistent studies, with consistent methodologies, to obtain strong evidence from this pathology in Latin America. We are convinced that the scientific societies of the region and Pan American League of Associations of Rheumatology (PANLAR) are responding to those demands. There are two projects under development, the first one is ESPALDA registry: registro de esponiloartritis axial de america, created by PANLAR SpA study group, which will soon have data from the entire region that will be able to respond to unmet needs (https:// espaldapanlar.com.ar). The second comes from the REAL PANLAR special group that successfully developed centers of excellence in rheumatoid arthritis and is working on the quality standards for centers of excellence in SpA [2]. Both projects that are not mentioned in the article, will provided new data, to successfully respond to those demands and to have quality data for taking decisions. Regarding the methodology of the article, we believe that the use of a narrative review is a weakness, although it was carried out by experts on the topic. The literature review may have selection bias, where publications are chosen by known and on occasions the populations studied can be repeated in two different publications. In any case, narrative reviews by experts are useful for a first look of the reality and to be ready for a systematic review and meta-analysis [3]. The Latin American population is unique and heterogeneous like Spa. This allows us to have distinctive information about our patients, different from those published in other regions. We believe that we must continue working together with other countries in the region to obtain such important evidence [4].