title: Adalimumab reduces pain, fatigue, and stiffness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: results from the adalimumab trial evaluating long-term safety and efficacy for ankylosing spondylitis (ATLAS).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of adalimumab on pain, fatigue, and stiffness in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Adalimumab Trial Evaluating Long-Term Safety and Efficacy for Ankylosing Spondylitis (ATLAS) was an ongoing 5-year study that included an initial 24-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind period. Patients were randomized to adalimumab 40 mg or placebo by subcutaneous injection every other week. Pain was assessed by the bodily pain domain scores of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and also by total back pain and nocturnal pain using visual analog scales. Fatigue was measured by the SF-36 vitality domain and question 1 of the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). Morning stiffness was measured by the mean of BASDAI questions 5 and 6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 315 patients enrolled, 208 received adalimumab 40 mg and 107 received placebo. At Week 12, adalimumab-treated patients experienced significant improvement compared with placebo-treated patients in the SF-36 bodily pain score (p < 0.001), total back pain score (p < 0.001), nocturnal pain score (p < 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.01), and morning stiffness (p < 0.001). Pain, fatigue, and morning stiffness were significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with baseline values of patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and physical function, and with improvements in these values at Week 12 by regression analysis. Treatment effects occurred rapidly (within 2 wks) and were maintained through 24 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adalimumab significantly improved symptoms of pain, fatigue, and stiffness in patients with AS. Improved symptoms were associated with improved physical function and HRQOL.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Outcomes Research, United BioSource Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA. dennis.revicki@unitedbiosource.com
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Revicki
authors.forename: Michelle P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wordsworth
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Naijun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068879:Adalimumab