Etanercept Treatment in Ankylosing Spondylitis Hip Lesions / 대한고관절학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of etanercept in patients with an ankylosing spondylitis hip lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2008 and December 2011, this study evaluated 13 patients with hip lesions who were refractory to conventional therapy. The general improvement was evaluated by the Harris hip score, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), ESR, CRP, and complications. RESULTS: The mean Harris hip score changed from 55.6+/-3.4 to 87.2+/-4.3(P=0.01). The mean BASDAI/ BASFI decreased from 6.8+/-1.7/6.8+/-1.6 before treatment to 4.4+/-1.8(P=0.02)/4.3+/-1.1(P=0.02) after treatment. The mean ESR/CRP changed from 48.4+/-31.5/5.8+/-5.1 to 20.8+/-19.7(P=0.06)/3.1+/-4.2(P=0.03). No complications were encountered. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that etanercept can induce significant pain improvement in most ankylosing spondylitis hip lesions.

Efficacy of Setarud (IMOD®), a novel drug with potent anti-toxic stress potential in rat inflammatory bowel disease and comparison with dexamethasone and infliximab.

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic, immune-mediated and chronic intestinal condition. In the present study, the effect of Serarud (IMOD®), a novel natural drug with known immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties was investigated in experimental colitis in rats and compared with the dexamethasone and infliximab. Immunologic colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of a mixture of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) and absolute ethanol in male Wistar rats. Animals were divided into 6 groups of sham (normal group), control (vehicle-treated), positive control (dexamethasone 1 mg/kg/day given orally and infliximab 5 mg/kg/day given subcutaneously) and 3 Setarud-treated groups (13.3, 20, 30 mg/kg/day given intraperitoneally). The treatment continued for 14 consecutive days and then animals were decapitated on the day 15 and distal colons were removed for macroscopic, microscopic, and biochemical assays. Biochemical markers, including TNF-, IL-1, ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and thiobarbitoric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) were measured in the homogenate of colonic tissue. A remarkable reduction in macroscopic and histological damage scores was observed in the animals treated with Setarud. These findings were confirmed by decreased levels of TNF-, interleukin-1, MPO activity and TBARS, and raised levels of FRAP in the colon tissue. These observations confirmed the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Setarud in experimental colitis, which was comparable to those of dexamethasone and infliximab.

Treatment of Late Onset Ankylosing Spondylitis with TNF Antagonist: A Case Series / 대한류마티스학회지

Ankylosing spondylitis is a disease that shows a young age of onset (less than 40 years old), inflammatory back pain, sacroiliitis and a strong association with HLA-B27. Yet some recently reported cases have presented with a late age of onset (more than 55 years old), atypical clinical presentations and a low response to NSAIDs, and this has also been named late onset spondyloarthropathy (LOSPA). As compared with early onset spondyloarthropathy (EOSPA), the LOSPA patients more frequently suffer with combined peripheral arthritis and inflammatory systemic symptoms and a high ESR and CRP level, but they lack the typical axial symptoms. Yet there have been few reports about late onset ankylosing spondylitis (LOAS). The previous cases of LOSPA and LOAS were managed with NSAIDs, steroids, methotrexate and sulfasalazine, but none were managed with TNF antagonists. LOAS is rare and difficult for management because of the patients' older age and the lack of experiences with this malady, so we report here on the four cases of LOAS that were successfully treated by TNF antagonists.