title: [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.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Reumatologia, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada.
authors.forename: Ana Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cravo
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: José Canas
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Da Silva
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept