This meta- analysis shows that ETN monotherapy is effective in improving physical function and reducing disease activity in patients with AS .
Compared with SSZ , ETN markedly decreased the BASDAI and CRP levels .
Etanercept ( ETN ) has been widely applied in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) .
As the use of ETN has increased , associated adverse effects have been reported frequently .
Previous meta-analyses have focused on comparing the differences in clinical outcomes between ETN and placebo ( PBO ) .
The present meta- analysis evaluated r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) to compare the effects of ETN and a PBO or sulfasalazine ( SSZ ) in patients with AS .
Etanercept in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis: a randomised trial
BACKGROUND Etanercept , a tumour-necrosis-factor inhibitor , has shown efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis . Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis are disease states in which tumour necrosis factor , a proinflammatory cytokine , is present in increased concentrations in joints and in the skin . Therefore , psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis may be appropriate therapeutic targets for etanercept . METHODS This r and omised , double-blind , placebo-controlled , 12 week study assessed the efficacy and safety of etanercept ( 25 mg twice-weekly subcutaneous injections ) or placebo in 60 patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis . Psoriatic arthritis endpoints included the proportion of patients who met the Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria ( PsARC ) and who met the American College of Rheumatology preliminary criteria for improvement ( ACR20 ) . Psoriasis endpoints included improvement in the psoriasis area and severity index ( PASI ) and improvement in prospect ively-identified individual target lesions . FINDINGS In this 12 week study , 26 ( 87 % ) of etanercept-treated patients met the PsARC , compared with seven ( 23 % ) of placebo-controlled patients . The ARC20 was achieved by 22 ( 73 % ) of etanercept-treated patients compared with four ( 13 % ) of placebo-treated patients . Of the 19 patients in each treatment group who could be assessed for psoriasis ( > or = 3 % body surface area ) , five ( 26 % ) of etanercept-treated patients achieved a 75 % improvement in the PASI , compared with none of the placebo-treated patients ( p=0.015 ) . The median PASI improvement was 46 % in etanercept-treated patients versus 9 % in placebo-treated patients ; similarly , median target lesion improvements were 50 % and 0 , respectively . Etanercept was well tolerated . INTERPRETATION Etanercept offers patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis a new therapeutic option for control of their disease
This meta- analysis shows that ETN monotherapy is effective in improving physical function and reducing disease activity in patients with AS .
Compared with SSZ , ETN markedly decreased the BASDAI and CRP levels .
Etanercept ( ETN ) has been widely applied in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) .
As the use of ETN has increased , associated adverse effects have been reported frequently .
Previous meta-analyses have focused on comparing the differences in clinical outcomes between ETN and placebo ( PBO ) .
The present meta- analysis evaluated r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) to compare the effects of ETN and a PBO or sulfasalazine ( SSZ ) in patients with AS .