title: Disease-modifying effect of etanercept versus sulphasalazine on spinal mobility in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To model the estimated disease-modifying effect of etanercept over sulphasalazine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A post hoc analysis of data from the Ankylosing Spondylitis Study Comparing ENbrel and Sulfasalazine Dosed Weekly (ASCEND) study was performed using the Natural History Staggered Start (NHSS) method. A mixed model with a linear effect over time was fitted to the ASCEND data and resampling was performed to generate confidence intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At week 16, the total additional improvement in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index of the etanercept arm over the sulphasalazine arm was 0.62 points, of which 31% (0.19 points) was estimated to be due to disease-modifying effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis of ASCEND data suggests that etanercept may have a larger disease-modifying effect than sulphasalazine. Further research is needed with more objective measures such as magnetic resonance imaging or X-radiography to confirm these results.
authors: Pentara Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Hendrix
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Koenig
authors: Wenzhi
authors: W
authors: Li
authors: Amitabh
authors: A
authors: Singh
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000187:drug effects; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D000068800:Etanercept
keywords: ASCEND; Ankylosing spondylitis; biological model; etanercept; spine; sulphasalazine