Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Spondyloarthropathies

The principles of treatment of anylosing spondylitis are to control the inflammation so that scarring and calcification with subsequent stiffening of the spine and of joints is minimized as much as possible.

The usual anti-inflammatories that are used for other forms of arthritis are utilized here as well, such as NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors. Corticosteroids, which play a larger role in rheumatoid arthritis, play less of a role for ankylosing spondylitis. However, for single joints that are affected, these may be injected by the physician or rheumatologist for easier rehabilitation.

Acute iritis is treated by the ophthalmologist utilizing topical corticosteroid drops as well. Systemic corticosteroids are avoided because of the danger of osteoporosis that would develop much easier in these patients and the danger of septicemia with life threatening infections as a result of the immunosuppressive side effect of corticosteroids.

Reiter's Syndrome

is associated with Chlamydia trachomatis, a sexually transmitted disease, and treatment with doxycycline over a period of 3 months is usually required for the patients and their sexual partners. Otherwise treatment for the joint pains is as above with mainly NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors.

Psoriatic arthritis

This has to be treated with anti-inflammatory medications often alongside any flare-up of psoriasis ( the skin disease) that may be flaring up at the same time.

As the presence of arthritis alongside skin signs of psoriasis indicates a more severe form of psoriasis with significiant autoimmune reactions, immune modulating therapies are needed to quickly get the disease under control. These therapies that were only developed very recently are at the present time still fairly expensive. Infliximab is a monoclonal antibody against TNF and this medication has been released by the FDA for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohns disease. The above link shows that dermatologists in the US have found this medication to be useful in difficult to treat psoriasis cases. Enbrel is another anti-TNF medication, which has been accepted by the FDA for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Other immune modulators are alefacept and efalizumab, both of which work by inhibiting T cells (Ref. 6).

Reactive arthritis

is treated symptomatically while the underlying diseases are also treated with the usual therapies specific for the underlying diseases.

Enteropathic arthritis

This is associated with Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis. The same principle applies that the underlying condition is specifically treated and the associated arthritis is treated symptomatically as well.

In all of the different forms of arthritis physical treatment modalities such as hot baths, physical therapies, daily exercises aimed at maintaining and regaining full range of motion and strength are combined with the treatment modalities mentioned above. Infliximab is a monoclonal antibody against TNF and this medication has been released by the FDA for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohns disease. It is an immunomodulator that addresses the autoimmune reaction that is behind the joint and gut symptoms of enteropathic arthritis (Ref.6).

Disclaimer:

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References:

1.The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse  Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 51.

2. Goldman: Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 21st ed.(©2000)W.B.Saunders

3. ABC of rheumatology, second edition, edited by Michael L. Snaith,M.D., BMJ Books, 1999.

4. Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc.

5. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier

6. The 50th Annual St. Paul's Hospital Continuing Medical Education Conference for Primary Physicians, Nov. 16 - 19, 2004

7. Suzanne Somers: "Breakthrough" Eight Steps to Wellness-- Life-altering Secrets from Today's Cutting-edge Doctors", Crown Publishers, 2008

Last Modified: Jan. 2, 2012