There is not enough evidence to support any benefit of sulfasalazine in reducing pain , disease activity , radiographic progression , or improving physical function and spinal mobility in the treatment of AS .
A statistically significant benefit in reducing the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and easing spinal stiffness was mentioned in the previous version .
More withdrawals because of side effects occurred with sulfasalazine .
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause and affects mainly the spine , but can also affect other joints .
Disease progression may result in loss of mobility and function .
Sulfasalazine is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug used in the treatment of AS .
However , its efficacy remains unclear .
This is an up date of a Cochrane review first published in 2005 .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the benefits and harms of sulfasalazine for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) .
Sulphasalazine in ankylosing spondylitis. A radiological, clinical and laboratory assessment
Summary In a 12-month double-blind placebo-controlled trial , the effect of sulphasalazine was studied in 40 patients with ankylosing spondylitis . The treatment group showed significant improvement in pain , stiffness , sleep disturbance ( p<0.05 ) , finger/floor distance , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , C-reactive protein , orosomucoid and IgA levels ( p<0.01 ) . There was improvement in sleep disturbance ( p<0.05 ) , finger/floor distance and erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( p<0.01 ) in the placebo group . Sulphasalazine did not retard radiological progression as measured either by plain X-ray or computerised tomographic scans . Multiple analysis of variance did not show a significant difference in disease activity indicators between the 2 groups
There is not enough evidence to support any benefit of sulfasalazine in reducing pain , disease activity , radiographic progression , or improving physical function and spinal mobility in the treatment of AS .
A statistically significant benefit in reducing the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and easing spinal stiffness was mentioned in the previous version .
More withdrawals because of side effects occurred with sulfasalazine .
BACKGROUND Ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause and affects mainly the spine , but can also affect other joints .
Disease progression may result in loss of mobility and function .
Sulfasalazine is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug used in the treatment of AS .
However , its efficacy remains unclear .
This is an up date of a Cochrane review first published in 2005 .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the benefits and harms of sulfasalazine for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) .