A combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and TNF-inhibitors may help slow down spine damage in ankylosing spondylitis, according to new research findings presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory form of arthritis that frequently affects the joints of the spine. It's more common in men. People with AS often are negative for rheumatoid factor, but positive for the, [gene or allele - depending on target audience] Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) B27.
Recent research on the effectiveness of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) on patients with inflammatory arthritis has been mixed, so researchers at the University of California, San Francisco in conjunction with several other investigators conducted a study to analyze the direct and interactive effects of a combination of the two therapies on radiographic (X-ray) progression of AS.
