title: Combination treatment with etanercept and an intensive spa rehabilitation program in active ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of a combination treatment with etanercept and spa rehabilitation versus etanercept alone on function, disability and quality of life in a group of patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Sixty patients with AS underwent etanercept as suggested by ASAS/EULAR recommendations. As the clinical and laboratory conditions improved, 30 patients accepted the proposal of coupling the medical therapy with a 7-day rehabilitation program in a thermal baths centre; the remaining 30 subjects continued to take the biologic agent alone. The comparisons between the 2 groups were made after 3 and 6 months. The primary outcome was an improvement in BASFI. The secondary outcome was an improvement in the visual analogic scale of EuroQol (EQ-5Dvas). After 6 months a statistically significant improvement in BASFI (p < 0.05) and EQ-5DVAS (p < 0.05) scores was observed in both groups. The mean change in EQ-5DVAS value showed a statistically significant difference in favour of the combination therapy group versus the monotherapy group (22 vs 32, p < 0.05). A therapeutic regimen combining etanercept with an intensive rehabilitation program contributes to disability reduction and ameliorates quality of life for AS patients.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colina
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciancio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garavini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trotta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Govoni
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001452:Balneology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept