title: Drug insight: anti-tumor-necrosis-factor therapy for ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the spine and peripheral joints that can lead to significant disability if left untreated. Conventional treatments can be successful in alleviating symptoms; however, this approach has not been shown to halt the progression of disease. The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is central to the pathogenesis of AS. Several anti-TNF drugs have been developed and have been shown to control symptoms effectively, and possibly to prevent both clinical and radiographic progression of disease, in patients with AS. This review discusses the data from clinical trials that have assessed the use of TNF inhibitors in patients with AS, and briefly outlines other biologic therapies that have been studied.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology Clinical Trials Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0633, USA.
authors.forename: Cailin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept