مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Anti tumor necrosis factor therapy of ankylosing spondylitis in clinical practice

Abstract :

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analize ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients who were using tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blocking agents and present the data on the efficacy and safety of this treatment in clinical practice. Materials and methods: AS patients using TNF-α blockers for at least six months were included in this retrospective study. Regular clinical observations were used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the anti-TNF-α drugs. Adverse events were recorded. Reasons for discontinuation of treatment were also closely followed-up. All the patients had a baseline comprehensive rheumatologic assessment and were repeatedly monitored every three months in the routine clinic practice for AS spesific disease indexes as well as laboratory tests. Results: A total of 41 patients with AS were reviewed of whom 26 were male and 15 were female, with a mean age of 43.22 years. The number of AS patients who were treated with etanercept was 18 (43.9%), adalimumab was 15 (36.6%), golimumab was 3 (7.3%) and finally infliximab was 5 (12.2%). Mean duration of the TNF-α bloker usage for AS patients was 39.56 months. 7 of the 11 (26.8%) AS patients who did not respond to the first anti-TNF-α therapy were switched to another anti-TNF-α agent. On the other hand 4 AS patients gave up anti- TNF-α therapy. AS spesific disease index scores and laboratory tests improved at the third and the sixth months when compared with the scores at the initiation of the TNF-α bloker therapy. Conclusion: Follow-up of patients with AS in our clinical setting showed that anti-TNF therapy is an effective and safe way of treatment with good adherence rates.