title: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy for spondyloarthropathies: advances in treatment.
abstract: The inflammatory arthritides included in the category of spondyloarthropathy (ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, and arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease) may cause significant, progressive morbidity. Therapy with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and traditionally used disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate, often fails in patients with more severe peripheral arthropathy and axial involvement, and alternative treatment options have been limited. With increased understanding of the pathologic processes involved in these disorders, new therapeutics have arisen and are being investigated in the various subtypes of spondyloarthropathy. This article reviews recent progress in disease-modifying therapy for spondyloarthropathy, including new biologic response modifiers, such as the tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors etanercept and infliximab.
authors.affiliation: Seattle Rheumatology Associates, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA. pmease@nwlink.com
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mease
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents