Therapeutic advances in ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease involving spinal and sacroiliac joints. This condition is responsible for back pain, stiffness, but also loss of functional capacity with socio-economic consequences. The management of AS includes patient education, rest, a programme of regular physical exercise, together with the use of NSAIDs. Second-line treatments are required in cases of severe or refractory AS, however only sulfasalazine has proven to benefit AS patients with peripheral arthritis. In spite of this management, the disease may not be adequately controlled, mainly for patients with refractory axial disease, enthesopathy or extra-articular features. Thus, new innovative treatments are needed for AS. It is likely that the new NSAIDs or COX-2 specific inhibitors will certainly take the place of the conventional NSAIDs, with regard to their superior tolerability. Methotrexate is a therapeutic option for AS treatment, but its usefulness in this disease remains to be established in adequate controlled studies. Finally, the TNF-alpha targeting drugs, namely thalidomide and the anti-TNF-alpha mAb, infliximab, have given promising results in the treatment of severe and/or refractory AS patients, however further controlled studies are required. In addition, the long-term use (efficacy and tolerability) of these two agents deserves attention.