Fatigue and Skeletal Muscle Impact in Severe Axial Spondyloarthritis
Axial spondyloarthropathy (SpA) is the most common inflammatory rheumatism (1% of the general population) with important medico-economic consequences. Fatigue is a major feature of SA. It can be defined as a feeling of reduced muscle capacity, lack of energy and exhaustion. The fatigue reaches an abnormally high level (fatigue severity score (FSS) ≥4, called severe fatigue in this protocol) in more than two thirds of patients with SA. Skeletal muscle repercussions are present during SA. It is characterized by a decrease in exercise capacity independently of pain and ankylosis but is associated with a decrease in strength and muscle mass, the importance of which varies from one study to another. The link between fatigue (subjective sensation) and the skeletal muscular impact (objective) of SA has never been studied.
• Axial SA according to the ASAS criteria;
• Targeted therapy naïve patients
• Indication to start a targeted therapy;
• Initiation of targeted therapy ≤ 15 days before inclusion
• ≥ 18 years old, no upper age limit;
• Subject affiliated to a social health insurance reimbursement;
• Subject able to understand the aims and risks of the research and having signed a dated and informed consent
• Subject informed of the results of the preliminary medical examination
• Woman in childbearing age: negative beta-HCG test and effective contraception;
• Sufficient understanding of French to follow the protocol.