Recent Advances in the Treatment of Spondyloarthropathy

ABSTRACT

Spondyloarthropathy is a chronic inflammatory disease involving axial joints and peripheral joints, and finally induces ankylosis of the spine. Treatment of spondyloarthropathy including ankylosing spondylitis has many limitations. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have played an important role in the control of pain and stiffness, however, could not inhibit the development of axial joint deformity. Although disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as sulfasalazine, methotrexate, and cyclosporine, are currently used in the clinic, clinical data supporting their efficacy from randomized controlled studies are still not enough. Also the efficacy of pamidronate, thalidomide, or other potential therapeutic agents needs to be con-firmed by randomized controlled trials. Lately the introduction of inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor alpha in the rheumatic diseases has made a great advance in the management of spondyloarthropathy. Here I review the conventional and newly introduced options in the management of spondyloarthropathy.