Effectiveness and reliability of etanercept treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: The aim was to evaluate effectiveness and reliability of etanercepttreatment in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.Materials and methods: 21 patients, who were diagnosed according toModified NewYork Criteria and had disease activity index of BASDAI score4points in spite of NSAID and sulfasalazine therapy at least for 3 months, wereevaluated after 6 months of etanercept treatment based on the clinical andlaboratory parameters. BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, HAQ-S, ASQoL, ASASresponse criterias (ASAS20, ASAS40, ASAS5/6, ASAS partial remission) wereused as clinical parameters.Results: After the six months of etanercept treatment, BASDAI, BASMI, BASFI,HAQ-S and ASQoL responses were improved statistically significant but chestexpansion parameter not at all. At the 6th month, 21 (%100) patients ASAS20,19 (%90.5) patients ASAS40, 17 (%81) patients ASAS 5/6 and 14 (%66.7)patients ASAS partial remission responses were demonstrated.Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that etanercept treatment was reliableand effective on patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. These results were gainedafter the short therm of follow up, therefore the evaluation for extended patientgroups and long therm of follow up was necessary.