Etanercept in adult patients with early onset ankylosing spondylitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether twice-weekly subcutaneous etanercept improves the signs and symptoms of adult patients with early onset ankylosing spondylitis (AS).


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed on a subgroup of patients with AS with onset < 18 years of age from a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of etanercept in the treatment of patients with AS. Twenty patients met criteria and are presented.


RESULTS
As early as week four, 5/9 (56%) patients who received etanercept achieved an Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis 20% response (ASAS 20) versus only 1/11 (9%) of those who received placebo (p = 0.032). The observed ASAS 20 response continued through week 24, with 6/9 (66%) patients receiving etanercept responding, versus 2/11 of patients receiving placebo (p = 0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
Etanercept improves signs and symptoms of early onset AS in adult patients for at least 24 weeks.
Inman
Robert D
RD
Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Clegg
Daniel O
DO
Davis
John C
JC
Whitmore
James B
JB
Solinger
Alan
A
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept