Etanercept in adult patients with early onset ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether twice-weekly subcutaneous etanercept improves the signs and symptoms of adult patients with early onset ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on a subgroup of patients with AS with onset < 18 years of age from a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of etanercept in the treatment of patients with AS. Twenty patients met criteria and are presented. RESULTS: As early as week four, 5/9 (56%) patients who received etanercept achieved an Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis 20% response (ASAS 20) versus only 1/11 (9%) of those who received placebo (p = 0.032). The observed ASAS 20 response continued through week 24, with 6/9 (66%) patients receiving etanercept responding, versus 2/11 of patients receiving placebo (p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Etanercept improves signs and symptoms of early onset AS in adult patients for at least 24 weeks.