Effectiveness and Safety of Etanercept in Iraqi Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Background: Ankylosiong spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that present as inflammation of the vertebrae and joints for which there is currently no cure, the aim of treatment is mainly symptomatic, maintain the functions and manage the complication. Etanercept is a biopharmaceutical component that treats autoimmune disease by interfering with tumor necrosis factor alpha soluble receptor. Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of Etanercept in Iraqi ankylosing spondylitis patients. Patients and methods: This was a single group open labeled observational study including 75 Iraqi patients with modified New York criteria of ankylosing spondylitis were recruited, patients received etanercept. And followed for 3 consecutive visits; 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. Disease activity was assessed at each visit by Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) and Bath ankylosing spondylitis function index (BASF!) for patients .The patients whom refused to participate, stopped the treatment or withdraw from the study and those whom loss to follow up were excluded from the study. Results: The mean age of patients was 35.2 ± 10 years, males represented 92% of the cases, and the Mean disease duration was 9.29 ± 7. l years. A highly significant decrease in BASFl and BASDAI, as compared to baseline, bad been found. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed no significant association between each of age of the patients, disease duration, HLA-B27, fa1nily history of Psoriasis/IBO, NSAIDs intake and duration of smoking with changes in BASDAI, BASFI and functional class. Conclusion: Etanerceptis effective and relatively safe in treatment of ankylosing spondylitis patients.