BASDAI
Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis
Disease Activity Index
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Effect of Biologic Therapy on Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).
The standard treatment for AS is the prescription of painkilling and antiinflammatory drugs called NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). This class of drugs may not adequately control the pain of AS and for many patients, it does not prevent the long-term and irreversable damage to the spine caused by AS.
There are new classes of drugs called biologics that neutralize an inflammatory factor causing damage and pain in AS called tumor necrosis factor (TNF). These drugs have been approved for 5 to 6 years to treat rheumatoid arthritis (another Immune Mediated Inflammatory Disease) and have recently been approved by the FDA to treat AS.
The chart above shows the rapid and sustained beneficial effect of one of these anti-TNFa biologics on the BASDAI over one year.
If your current therapy is not effective, talk to your rheumatologist about the possibility and advisibility of trying this new and powerful class of drugs for the treatment of your AS.
