Long-term outcome of patients with active ankylosing spondylitis with etanercept-sustained efficacy and safety after seven years.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Data from clinical studies on the long-term efficacy and safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are scarce. This is the first report on continuous treatment with the TNFα fusion protein etanercept over seven years (y).

Methods

Overall, 26 patients with active AS were initially treated with etanercept 2 × 25 mg s.c./week with no concomitant disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or steroids. The clinical response was assessed by standardized parameters. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients in the Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) partial remission at seven years. AS disease activity scores (ASDAS) for status and improvement were compared to conventional outcome measures

SUBMITTER: Baraliakos X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4060369 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature