Adalimumab for adults with ankylosing spondylitis

Adalimumab proves effective in treating ankylosing spondylitis (inflammatory arthritis which affects the spine and large joints), with a favourable safety profile.

A systematic review to assess the effectiveness of Adalimumab (Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor) for adults with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

The prominent databases (for example, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and PubMed) were scorched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Ankylosing spondylitis, adalimumab, glucocorticoids, methotrexate, non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), NSAIDs and analgesics were the commonly used search terms. In total, 14 RCTs comprising 4,500 participants were included.

Adalimumab exhibited noteworthy superiority over a placebo. It efficiently reduced disease activity, boosted physical function, and reduced inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Adalimumab displayed a favourable safety profile, with adverse events similar to the placebo.

Adalimumab proves to be effective in treating AS, indicating its promise as a primary therapeutic choice with no substantial rise in adverse events. Nonetheless, there is a necessity for additional studies with prolonged follow-up periods to determine the long-term safety and effectiveness of this tumour necrosis factor inhibitor in managing AS.