Among 487 patients, 128 AS patients were treated with at least one TNFi. Patientswho were treated with TNFi were younger at disease onset, had more peripheral manifestations, and had higher level of acute phase reactants and body mass index than those of TNFi non-users at baseline. Of 128 patients, 28 patients (21.9%) discontinued first TNFi therapy during the follow-up period of 65.1 ± 27.9 months. In the multivariable analysis, female (hazard ratio [HR], 6.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.27 to 16.27; p = 0.003), hip involvement (HR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.08 to 5.87; p = 0.033) and a high C-reactive protein (CRP; HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.21; p = 0.044) were risk factors for drug discontinuation. Etanercept showed better survival rate than infliximab. The main reason for discontinuation of TNFi was inefficacy.
CONCLUSIONS:
TNFi discontinuation rate of Korean patients with AS seems to be similar to those with the European patients. Femalesex, hip involvement, CRP, and the type of TNFi were associated with TNFi discontinuation.