Management of ankylosing spondylitis; present concepts and guidelines

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) belongs to spondyloarthritis (SpA) group of inflammatory arthritis, which has common genetic, clinical, and radiological features. The management aims at improving the quality of life, long-term control of inflammation so as to prevent structural damage, preserve functional abilities, and maintain the social life of patients. Treatment strategies and modalities in inflammatory arthritis have tremendously improved in recent times. With the discovery of molecular mechanisms, a new series of targets involving the cytokines, cells, and intracellular signaling pathways have been explored. The introduction of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor drugs heralded a new era of therapeutics for SpA, especially AS. Recently, the licensing of secukinumab, an interleukin 17A inhibitor for the treatment of AS, has given a new pathway to look at. These new targets give us an opportunity to achieve disease remission in both AS and nonradiologic axial SpA. They have also opened up new horizon to look for different research strategies in achieving disease remission using biological drugs in early disease and in stratified manner. International societies have been regularly providing and updating the guidelines for the management of AS. In this review, we discuss the treatment of AS and future trends in the management.