[Proposal of Croatian Society for Rheumatology for anti-TNF-alpha therapy in adult patients with spondyloarthritides].

Spondyloarthritides (SpA) as a group are one of the most common rheumatic disorders with a predominant affection of the spine. Conventinal disease modifying antirheumatic drugs which are effective in rheumatoid arthritis have poor effect on spinal inflammation. Today there is confirmed efficacy ofbiologics in spondylitis. This therapy is expensive and potentially hazaradous. Croatian Society for Rheumatology set up recommendations for the use of TNF-alpha blockers in SpA. There are several important points to be considered before their use: diagnosis of Spa, duration and disease activity, previous therapy and it's efficacy, application and efficacy ofbiologics, contraindications and safety preacutions and finally a decision for continuous tretament with biologics.