Etanercept is Effective and Relatively Safe in a Sample of Iraqi Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept in a sample of Iraqi patients with ankylosingspondylitis patients.Patients and methods: A single center open labeled prospective study conducted on 74 patients with ankylosingspondylitis diagnosed according to modified New York criteria of ankylosing spondylitis. Patients receivedetanercept 25mg twice weekly and were assessed at baseline, at month1, 3, and 6 thereafter. Disease activity wasevaluated by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and functional status by BathAnkylosing Spondylitis Function Index (BASFI) at each visit. Safety assessments included adverse events andlaboratory tests.Results: Mean age of patients was 35.2 ± 10 years, males represented 92% of the cases, and the mean diseaseduration was 9.29 ± 7.1 years. A significant decrease in BASFI and BASDAI was found after 1month,3 months,and 6 months compared to baseline( p<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed no significantassociation between age of patients, disease duration, HLA-B27, family history of psoriasis or inflammatorybowel disease, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs intake, and duration of smoking with the changes inBASDAI and BASF of the patients. Drug related adverse effects included three patients developed injection sitereaction, 10 patients upper respiratory tract infections, and no serious infections occurred Conclusion:Etanercept was effective and relatively safe in treatment of ankylosing spondylitis patients. Further investigationof longer term treatment with etanercept is warranted to further define its therapeutic utility.Keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis; Etanercept; Efficacy; Safety; BASDAI, BASFI