title: Withdrawal of biologic therapy in axial spondyloarthritis: the experience in early disease.
abstract: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors (TNF-blockers) are recommended for the treatment of predominantly axial spondyloarthritis (SpA), after failure of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). TNF-blockers are very effective drugs and also show a sustained and stable long-term response in axial SpA. A few trials indicated that withdrawal of TNF-blockers in longstanding ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is not feasible. However, a recent trial in very early axial SpA suggests that reaching a state of biologic-free low disease activity may be a realistic goal in some patients. This review summarises the available data concerning withdrawal of biologic therapies in early axial SpA.
authors.affiliation: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin-Franklin, Rheumatology, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: In-Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hildrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haibel
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poddubnyy
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sieper
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha