[Anti-TNF alfa therapy in ankylosing spondylitis]

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory chronic disease that affects young males and in more than 90% of cases is associated with HLA B27 antigen. Therapeutic options for those patients with spondyloarthropathies have been limited during the last decades. Infliximab and etanercept are both approved for the treatment of patients with active disease that does not respond to conventional therapies. Anti-TNF therapy is very effective in AS, and eventually can be more effective than in rheumatoid arthritis. In 2003 Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis Group (ASAS) published international recommendations about the use of these agents in AS, which can be used as guidance in taking decisions and elaborating guidelines. To define their utilization it is necessary more studies about efficacy, toxicity and about ways of use.