Anti-TNF-α therapy in ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a frequent disease leading to functional impairment and socioeconomic burden. Anti-TNF-α therapy has brought new perspectives in this condition. Two agents are currently used in the treatment of AS and spondyloarthropathies – infliximab (a chimeric monoclonal antibody) and etanercept (a soluble p75 TNF-receptor). Open-label studies have shown the feasibility and efficacy of these drugs. Controlled studies have confirmed the latter, at least in the short-term (1 year). Improvement in several clinical parameters, function, quality of life, biological parameters and magentic resonance imaging acute inflammation, have been observed. Due to these favourable results, anti-TNF have been approved for the treatment of AS. However, there are some safety concerns, essentially involving infection. Consensus guidelines for the use of anti-TNF in AS are available and assessment is based on validated tools. However, some questions still remain unanswered, such as the long-term efficacy and...

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