DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i05.057

Pages: 1773-1775

The treatment option for early diagnosed Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is becoming more defined with the availability of biologicals. Among the biologicals, the anti tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α agents have been found to be working well for Ankylosing Spondylitis. There are two such agents currently available—Infliximab and Etanercept. As there are no clear recommendations over the duration of usage of such biological we adopted a protocol of using it for three months, constituting 14 weekly doses of Etanercept subcutaneously in 19 patients. In our study, majority of the patients were found to be responding as early as the 3rd week and they sustained the effect even after stopping the medication. No adverse reaction was noted in our study. In conclusion, Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a progressive condition which, if diagnosed early can be effectively treated. The biologicals, Infliximab and Etanercept have been proven to be effective in controlling the disease if instituted early. In our observation we have found that a short-term treatment of three months is effective in majority of cases. However a long-term follow up is required to see whether the relief is sustainable or whether re-medication has to be instituted.