Since this spring, rheumatologists from Amsterdam UMC and Reade have teamed up to form the Spondyloarthritis Center Amsterdam, aiming to raise the standard of care for patients with spondyloarthritis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting joints and the spine, often linked to other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, or anterior uveitis (a form of eye inflammation). The treatment for spondyloarthritis focuses on preventing (progression of) joint damage and functional impairment.
Coordinated, specialized care
Previously, each institution treated its own patients. Now, under the framework of the national Integrated Care Agreement (IZA, integraal zorgakkoord), together they have approximately 3,000 patients in care aimed at high professional care and creating optimized conditions for research opportunities.
A future-proof approach and combining strengths
Dr. Marleen van de Sande, rheumatologist and member of the Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases (AI&I), emphasizes the importance of this collaboration not only for future-proof accessible care, but also for research:
‘Patients now benefit from the combined expertise of both institutions, patients of Reade have access to research opportunities, and knowledge is shared during the biweekly multidisciplinary meetings involving rheumatologists, radiologists, and rehabilitation physicians. The teams plan to expand their work through digital care pathways and remote services to enhance access and streamline the patient journey’.
Amsterdam UMC and Reade already had an established research collaboration, which the newly formed Spondyloarthritis Center Amsterdam is expected to further strengthen. The Center will advance existing research lines focused on improving outcomes for people living with spondyloarthritis.
Dr. van de Sande leads a clinical and translational research program aimed at better understanding the immunopathogenesis of spondyloarthritis, starting from the at-risk phase. She recently received the ReumaNederland Senior Talent Grant to support her studies on disease pathobiology, involving close collaboration between patients, rheumatologists, and researchers from both centers.
In partnership with Prof. Dr. Conny van der Laken (rheumatologist at Amsterdam UMC), an expert in advanced imaging technologies, and Dr. Mies Korteweg (radiologist at Reade), they aim to enhance imaging and tissue research to improve early diagnosis and develop personalized treatment strategies.