title: Ankylosing spondylitis: new treatment modalities.
abstract: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory arthropathy that affects young adults. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and can have a devastating effect on quality of life. Conventional therapeutic regimes have traditionally been insufficient to control symptoms and signs of disease, and have failed to halt disease progression. However, the outlook of AS has changed with the advent of biological agents that block pivotal inflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha. Ongoing research has proven these agents to be efficacious and safe in the short and medium term. Further, longer-term trials are awaited to address the issue of whether these therapies are true disease modifiers in AS.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatologische Praxisgemeinschaft, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marzo-Ortega
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Emery
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000628:therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept