Abstract
Introduction:Administration of biologic agents in AS patients is accompanied by a rapid- in the first 2 months-improvement of the clinical parameters associated with the disease itself. Thoraco-abdominal configuration is also improved in the first 3 months of treatment with antiTNFa.
Objectives:
We tested the hypothesis that long term administration of antiTNFa agents remains also beneficial to PFTs in AS.
Methods:
We performed a post-hoc analysis of 44 AS patients and we divided them into 2 similar age groups: to those without treatment and to those with at least 3 months on anti-TNF. Data from spirometry, lung volumes, and respiratory induction plethysmography were collected for further analysis.
Results:
Our results are depicted at Table 1.
Mean (±SD) data in two groups
Anti-TNFα was administered for 28,43 months (±19,81).
Muscle strength was better in second group( p=0,84 for MIPact%pred, p=0,05112 for SNIPact%pred and p=0,059 for MEPact%pred).Plethysmography data were inconclusive.
Conclusions:
We compared 2 similar groups of AS patients and even if the second group had a longer disease duration, muscle strength data were better, showing that administration of antiTNFa may be is associated with a sustained improvement of respiratory parameters.Further cohort studies are needed for more robust results.
- © 2013 ERS
