Effects of Short Course of Etanercept in Patients With Suspected NraxSpA 

Disease activity and radiographic progression in patients with suspected nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nraxSpA) did not differ over the long-term between those who received 16 weeks of etanercept treatment and those who did not.

The study included 80 patients with inflammatory back pain and suspected nraxSpA. All participants had Bath Ankylosing Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score of 4 or higher, and half received etanercept 25 mg twice weekly and half received placebo for 16 weeks. Participants were followed without treatment restrictions for 3 years.

By the end of follow-up, 84% of the patients had been diagnosed with spondyloarthritis, most with axSpA. Almost a third had started biological treatment.

The study identified no significant differences at 3 years in average BASDAI scores and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Scores in patients who received etanercept during the initial period and those who did not. Radiographic changes of the sacroiliac joints and spine were also consistent between groups.

“A short course of etanercept in patients with suspected nraxSpA did not affect disease activity, the chance of biological treatment, or radiographic progression after 3 years of follow-up,” concluded researchers.

Reference:
Rusman T, van der Weijden M, Nurmohamed MT, et al. Does a short course of etanercept influence disease progression and radiographic changes in patients suspected of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis? Three-years follow- up of a placebo-controlled trial. Scand J Rheumatol. Published online May 11, 2022. 1-5. doi:10.1080/03009742.2022.2050502