The clinical practice of Professor Landewé focuses on spondyloarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and osteoporosis. He has a special interest in spondyloarthritis (in particular ankylosing spondylitis [AS]), osteoporosis and imaging in inflammatory diseases. The team’s research activities include predicting outcome in RA and AS, structural damage in RA and AS and longitudinal relationships between outcome parameters. Professor Landewé has been involved in several Phase II and III clinical trials of biologicals (TNF-blocking drugs), COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and nonselective NSAIDs.

1. Course and prediction of structural damage in AS
2. Relation between structural damage and function in AS
3. Course of early spondyloarthritis

In Professor Landewé’s centre there is a focus on methodology, particularly multivariate and longitudinal statistics. Fellows with basis statistical knowledge (including regression analysis) and the ability to work with databases are preferred.

Heuft-Dorenbosch L, Landewé R, Weijers R, Houben H, van der Linden S, Jacobs P, van der Heijde D. Performance of various criteria sets in patients with inflammatory back pain of short duration, the Maastricht early spondyloarthritis clinic. Ann Rheum Dis. 2007;66:92-98.

Maksymowych WP, Landewé R, Conner-Spady B, Dougados M, Mielants H, van der Tempel H, Poole AR, Wang N, van der Heijde D. Serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 is an independent predictor of structural damage progression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:1846-1853.

Geusens PP, Landewé RB, Garnero P, Chen D, Dunstan CR, Lems WF, Stinissen P, van der Heijde DM, van der Linden S, Boers M. The ratio of circulating osteoprotegerin to RANKL in early rheumatoid arthritis predicts later joint destruction. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:1772-1777.

Landewé R, van der Heijde D, Klareskog L, van Vollenhoven R, Fatenejad S. Disconnect between inflammation and joint destruction after treatment with etanercept plus methotrexate: results from the trial of etanercept and methotrexate with radiographic and patient outcomes. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:3119-3125.

Landewé R, Geusens P, Boers M, van der Heijde D, Lems W, te Koppele J, van der Linden S, Garnero P. Markers for type II collagen breakdown predict the effect of disease-modifying treatment on long-term radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:1390-1399.