TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS IN THE REAL CLINICAL PRACTICE OF A RHEUMATOLOGIST IN RUSSIA

Objective: to analyze the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the real practice of a rheumatologist in Russia. Subjects and methods. The cross-sectional study included 330 AS patients who had been actively seeking medical advice from rheumatologists during 4 months in 24 cities and towns of the Russian Federation. The therapy performed was studied using the medical history data recorded by physicians in the specially designed clinical chart. Drug intake, its regularity, reasons for discontinuation of medications, and their clinical effect were elucidated in all the patients. The need to intensify the therapy and to use genetically engineered biological agents was determined by disease activity at the time of examination. Results. The medical histories indicated that 62% of the patients received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regularly, 34% had them periodically, and 4% were not treated; two thirds of the patients took diclofenac, nimesulide, or meloxicam. 33, 14, and 9% of the patients used sulfasalazine, methotrexate, and oral glucocorticosteroids, respectively. Sixty (18%) patients received tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors. Different physiotherapeutic methods were used in 30% of cases; only 46% did exercises regularly; as high as 4% of the patients had sanatorium-and-spa treatment. In the physicians' opinion, 81% of the patients needed intensified therapy and 62% did therapy with TNF-α inhibitors. At the same time TNF-α inhibitors were indicated in 38% of the patients according to the ASAS recommendations. Conclusion. In real clinical practice, AS treatment does not always meet the current recommendations: only 62% of the patients received continuous NSAID therapy; disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were frequently used without any indications. 18% of the patients took TNF-α inhibitors and 38% really needed them.

ankylosing spondylitis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, real clinical practice

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