Abstract
IntroductionAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disease associated with spinal inflammation that subsequently leads to progression of structural damage and loss of function. The fully human anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) antibody adalimumab reduces the signs and symptoms and improves overall quality of life in patients with active AS; these benefits have been maintained through 2 years of treatment. Our objective was to compare the progression of structural damage in the spine in patients with AS treated with adalimumab for up to 2 years versus patients who had not received TNF antagonist therapy.MethodsRadiographs from patients with AS who received adalimumab 40 mg every other week subcutaneously were pooled from the Adalimumab Trial Evaluating Long-Term Efficacy and Safety for Ankylosing Spondylitis (ATLAS) study and a Canadian AS study (M03-606). Radiographic progression from baseline to 2 years in the spine of adalimumab-treated patients from these two studies (adalimumab cohort, n = 307) was compared with an historic anti-TNF-naïve cohort (Outcome in AS International Study [OASIS], n = 169) using the modified Stoke AS Spine Score (mSASSS) method.ResultsmSASSS results were not significantly different between the adalimumab cohort and the OASIS cohort, based on baseline and 2-year radiographs. Mean changes in mSASSS from baseline to 2 years were 0.9 for the OASIS cohort and 0.8 for the adalimumab cohort (P = 0.771), indicating similar radiographic progression in both groups. When results for patients in the OASIS cohort who met the baseline disease activity criteria for the ATLAS and Canadian studies (OASIS-Eligible cohort) were analyzed, there was no significant difference in mean change in mSASSS from baseline to 2 years between OASIS-Eligible patients and adalimumab-treated patients; the mean changes in mSASSS were 0.9 for the OASIS-Eligible cohort and 0.8 for the adalimumab cohort (P = 0.744).ConclusionsTwo years of treatment with adalimumab did not slow radiographic progression in patients with AS, as assessed by the mSASSS scoring system, when compared with radiographic data from patients naïve to TNF antagonist therapy.Trial registrationCanadian study (M03-606) ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00195819; ATLAS study (M03-607) ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00085644.
Highlights
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disease associated with spinal inflammation that subsequently leads to progression of structural damage and loss of function
When results for patients in the Outcome in AS International Study (OASIS) cohort who met the baseline disease activity criteria for the ATLAS and Canadian studies (OASISEligible cohort) were analyzed, there was no significant difference in mean change in modified Stoke AS Spine Score (mSASSS) from baseline to 2 years between OASIS-Eligible patients and adalimumab-treated patients; the mean changes in mSASSS were 0.9 for the OASIS-Eligible cohort and 0.8 for the adalimumab cohort (P = 0.744)
In the Adalimumab Trial Evaluating Long-Term Efficacy and Safety for Ankylosing Spondylitis (ATLAS) and Canadian AS (M03-606) studies, adalimumab demonstrated a reduction in signs and symptoms and improvement in disease-related quality of life in patients with active AS [5,6]; these benefits were maintained over 2 years of treatment [7]
Summary
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disease associated with spinal inflammation that subsequently leads to progression of structural damage and loss of function. The fully human anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) antibody adalimumab reduces the signs and symptoms and improves overall quality of life in patients with active AS; these benefits have been maintained through 2 years of treatment. The TNF antagonists etaneracept [3] and infliximab [4] have been shown to reduce the signs and symptoms of active AS and improve disease-related quality of life. In the Adalimumab Trial Evaluating Long-Term Efficacy and Safety for Ankylosing Spondylitis (ATLAS) and Canadian AS (M03-606) studies, adalimumab demonstrated a reduction in signs and symptoms and improvement in disease-related quality of life in patients with active AS [5,6]; these benefits were maintained over 2 years of treatment [7]. In vitro and in vivo models indicate that the bone destruction is mediated by TNF activation of osteoclasts [12,13,14]
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