Evaluation of the efficacy of etoricoxib in ankylosing spondylitis: results of a fifty-two-week, randomized, controlled study. A 2-year comparative open label randomized study of efficacy and safety of etanercept and infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis Etoricoxib in ankylosing spondylitis: is there a role for active patients refractory to traditional NSAIDs? [Etoricoxib in the treatment of active sacroiliitis in patients with axial spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis]. Efficacy and safety of infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (ASSERT). MRI and clinical findings in patients with ankylosing spondylitis eligible for anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy after a short course of etoricoxib Efficacy and safety of infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis over a two-year period. Treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis with infliximab: a randomised controlled multicentre trial Outcomes of a multicentre randomised clinical trial of etanercept to treat ankylosing spondylitis Efficacy of methotrexate in ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial. Long-term efficacy and safety of infliximab in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis: an open, observational, extension study of a three-month, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Sustained efficacy and safety, including patient-reported outcomes, with etanercept treatment over 5 years in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Efficacy and safety of up to 192 weeks of etanercept therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Secukinumab and Sustained Improvement in Signs and Symptoms of Patients With Active Ankylosing Spondylitis Through Two Years: Results From a Phase III Study Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with medicated moxibustion plus salicylazosulfapyridine and methotrexate--a report of 30 cases. Efficacy and safety of adalimumab in Chinese adults with active ankylosing spondylitis: results of a randomised, controlled trial [A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, phase III clinical study of etanercept in treatment of ankylosing spondylitis].
OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy , safety , and tolerability of etoricoxib , a cyclooxygenase 2 ( COX-2 ) selective inhibitor , administered continuously over 52 weeks for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . METHODS This 2-part , multicenter , double-blind , parallel-group , 52-week study evaluated 2 doses of etoricoxib ( 90 and 120 mg ) compared with naproxen at 1,000 mg . A 6-week , active-comparator- and placebo-controlled period ( part I ) was followed by a 46-week active-comparator-controlled period ( part II ) . The primary outcome measures ( on 100-mm visual analog scales ) were patient 's assessment of spine pain , patient 's global assessment of disease activity , and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index . RESULTS Of the 387 patients r and omized to receive treatment , 301 ( 77.8 % ) completed part I and 284 ( 75.9 % ) completed part II . Compared with placebo over 6 weeks , those receiving 90 mg etoricoxib , 120 mg etoricoxib , and naproxen demonstrated significantly ( P < 0.001 ) greater improvement in all primary end points ; treatment effects ( expressed as the difference in least squares mean change versus placebo ) were 21 - 29 mm for spine pain , 18 - 25 mm for disease activity , and 11 - 15 mm for function . Compared with patients receiving naproxen , significantly greater improvement in all primary end points was demonstrated in the combined group receiving either 90 mg etoricoxib or 120 mg etoricoxib over 6 weeks , in each individual etoricoxib treatment group over 6 weeks , and in the combined etoricoxib group over 1 year ( all P < 0.05 ) ; results for secondary and exploratory end points were generally consistent with those from the primary analysis . Among all groups , there were no significant differences in the incidence of overall clinical , drug-related , or serious adverse experiences ( AEs ) and discontinuations due to AEs . Safety observations during part II were generally consistent with those in part I. CONCLUSION Etoricoxib at doses of 90 mg and 120 mg demonstrated superior efficacy compared with placebo over 6 weeks , and compared with naproxen over 1 year . These study results demonstrate that etoricoxib is generally safe , well-tolerated , and efficacious for the treatment of AS The signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) respond inadequately to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs , corticosteroids , and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs in quite a number of patients . Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have demonstrated to be of value in reducing AS disease activity in clinical trials . The efficacy and safety of both etanercept and infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis were compared in a 2-year open label r and omised study . Our results are consistent with a significant more rapid clinical improvement in the infliximab treated group . Treatment with both etanercept and infliximab at the end of the study was effective , safe , and well tolerated OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of etoricoxib in patients with axial ankylosing spondyloarthritis ( AS ) refractory to traditional NSAIDs . METHODS This was an open label , multicentric , r and omised , prospect i ve ( 4 weeks with and open extension to 6 months ) , non-controlled study . Consecutive patients with axial AS refractory to traditional NSAID eligible for anti-TNF-α therapy were selected . The primary outcomes were the rate of patients with good clinical response ( not eligible for anti-TNF-α therapy after etoricoxib ) and the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society response criteria for biologic therapies ( ASASBIO ) response at 4 weeks . Secondary outcomes included : ASAS20 and 40 responses , ASDAS-CRP response , BASDAI , BASFI , back and night back pain , global patient and physician assessment of the disease , and biologic parameters like C-reactive protein ( CRP ) at 2 , 4 weeks and 6 months . RESULTS A total of 57 axial AS patients were recruited , 46 men , with mean age of 43 years . After 4 weeks of treatment , 26 patients ( 46 % ) achieved a good clinical response and 11 ( 20 % ) an ASASBIO response . These results at 24 weeks were 19 ( 33 % ) and 13 ( 23 % ) respectively . All individual clinical variables improved significantly after 4 weeks of treatment . CRP serum levels decreased after 4 weeks but reached no statistical significance , although 30 % of patients showed a normalisation of CRP . CONCLUSIONS Etoricoxib provided a clear clinical improvement in around a third of patients with axial AS refractory to traditional NSAIDs . Special care should be required when deciding to start anti-TNF-α therapy ; it seems reasonable to keep in mind these results of etoricoxib treatment AIM To study a trend in active sacroiliitis ( ASI ) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis ( axSpA ) during different short-term regimens using etoricoxib ( ET ) 90 mg . SUBJECTS AND METHODS Forty patients with axSpA , including 30 with ankylosing spondyloarthritis ) , and ASI ( sacroiliac joint ( SIJ ) osteitis as evidence d by magnetic resonance imaging ) were examined and then r and omized to 2 groups : 1 ) 20 patients who took ET 90 mg four days or more a week ; 2 ) 20 patients who received ET 90 mg 3 days or less a week .  Osteitis was measured in 4 quadrants of each SIJ ( 0 - 3 scores ) . Its main criterion was considered to be a decrease in total osteitis activity ( TOA ) 12 week later . RESULTS In all the patients ( n = 40 ) , TOA decreased from 6.5 ( 4 ; 9 ) to 2 ( 0 ; 5 ) scores ( p < 0.0001 ) . In Group 1 ( n = 20 ) , that reduced from 6.5 ( 4 ; 8.5 ) to 0 ( 0 ; 3 ) scores ( p < 0.0001 ) . In Group 2 ( n = 20 ) , that did from 6.5 ( 4 ; 10 ) to 4 ( 1 ; 8) scores ( p = 0.49 ) . At 12 weeks , in in Groups 1 and 2 , the difference in final TOA achieved no statistical significance ( p=0.056 ) . In these groups , there were 19 ( 95 % ) and 14 ( 70 % ) treatment-responsive patients , respectively . CONCLUSION The intake of ET 90 mg for 12-weeks is associated with a reduction in the degree of ASI in patients with axSpA. The use of ET 4 times or more a week is more effective in diminishing osteitis than that of ET 3 days or less OBJECTIVE The signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) respond inadequately to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs , corticosteroids , and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in quite a number of patients . Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have demonstrated success in reducing AS disease activity in a limited number of clinical trials . The objective of this multicenter , r and omized , placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of infliximab in patients with AS . METHODS Patients were r and omly assigned to receive infusions of placebo or 5 mg/kg infliximab at weeks 0 , 2 , 6 , 12 , and 18 . Efficacy was assessed using the ASsessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis ( ASAS ) International Working Group criteria , the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index ( BASDAI ) , night pain , patient 's global assessment , the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index ( BASFI ) , the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index ( BASMI ) , chest expansion , the M and er enthesis index , the total swollen joint index , the C-reactive protein level , and the Short Form 36 ( SF-36 ) health survey question naire . The primary end point in this study was the proportion of patients with a 20 % improvement response according to the ASAS International Working Group criteria ( ASAS20 responders ) at week 24 . RESULTS Of the 357 patients screened , 201 were assigned to receive 5 mg/kg infliximab and 78 were assigned to receive placebo . After 24 weeks , 61.2 % of patients in the infliximab group were ASAS20 responders compared with 19.2 % of patients in the placebo group ( P < 0.001 ) . Clinical benefit was observed in patients receiving infliximab as early as week 2 and was maintained over the 24-week study period . Patients receiving infliximab also showed significant improvements in the BASDAI , BASFI , BASMI , chest expansion , and physical component summary score of the SF-36 . Adverse events were reported by 82.2 % of patients receiving infliximab and by 72.0 % of patients receiving placebo ; however , most adverse events in both treatment groups were mild or moderate in severity . CONCLUSION Infliximab was well tolerated and effective in a large cohort of patients with AS during a 24-week study period Objective : To describe and assess the response to short-term etoricoxib as shown by MRI and clinical variables in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) selected for eligibility for anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy .  Methods : In a 6-week open-label study , 22 patients with AS and eligible for biological therapy were treated with 90 mg of etoricoxib daily . Clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained and MRI of the sacroiliac joints and the lower thoracic and lumbar spine performed at baseline and at week 6 . The primary end point was the proportion of patients fulfilling the SpondyloArthritis international Society ( ASAS ) response criteria for biological therapies ( ASASBIO ) while secondary end points included the change in MRI-determined bone lesions . Results : Eight of 20 completers improved enough to meet the ASASBIO response criteria and most clinical variables improved significantly . Fifteen patients had a total of 63 MRI-detectable lesions ; overall , 13/60 lesions with paired scans either resolved completely or improved , while five lesions worsened or appeared during treatment . Conclusion : Etoricoxib is an effective symptomatic treatment for patients with AS ; however , its effect on MRI-detected lesions is small . Further studies are needed to determine the effect of etoricoxib on MRI-determined bone oedema OBJECTIVE To assess safety and efficacy of infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) through 102 weeks . METHODS Patients ( n = 279 ) with active AS were r and omized to either group 1 ( n = 78 ; placebo through week 24 and then infliximab 5 mg/kg from weeks 24 through 96 ) or group 2 ( n = 201 ; infliximab 5 mg/kg through week 96 ) . The primary efficacy end point at week 24 ( > or=20 % improvement in the ASsessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis International Working Group criteria [ ASAS20 ] ) was assessed with an intent-to-treat analysis of observed data . RESULTS More patients in group 2 than group 1 achieved the ASAS20 response at week 24 ( 61.2 % versus 19.2 % ; P < 0.001 ) . By week 102 , groups 1 and 2 were similar with regard to ASAS20 response ( 72.1 % versus 73.9 % ) ; ASAS40 responses at week 102 were 45.9 % versus 59.4 % . No new safety issues were discerned . CONCLUSION Infliximab demonstrated sustained efficacy and safety over 2 years in this large cohort of patients with active AS UNLABELLED BACKGROUND Treatment options for patients with ankylosing spondylitis are few . We aim ed to assess the effectiveness of infliximab , an antibody to tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha , in treatment of such patients . METHODS In this 12-week placebo-controlled multicentre study , we r and omly assigned 35 patients with active ankylosing spondylitis to intravenous infliximab ( 5 mg/kg ) and 35 to placebo at weeks 0 , 2 , and 6 . One patient in the infliximab group was withdrawn from the study . Our primary outcome was regression of disease activity of at least 50 % . To assess response , we used vali date d clinical criteria from the ankylosing spondylitis assessment working group , including disease activity ( BASDAI ) , functional indices ( BASFI ) , metrology ( BASMI ) , and quality of life ( short form 36 ) . Analyses were done by intention to treat . FINDINGS 18 ( 53 % ) of 34 patients on infliximab had a regression of disease activity at week 12 of at least 50 % compared with three ( 9 % ) of 35 on placebo ( difference 44 % [ 95 % CI 23 - 61 ] , p<0.0001 ) . Function and quality of life also improved significantly on infliximab but not on placebo ( p<0.0001 and p<0.0001 , respectively ) . Treatment with infliximab was generally well tolerated , but three patients had to stop treatment because of systemic tuberculosis , allergic granulomatosis of the lung , or mild leucopenia . INTERPRETATION Our results show that treatment with infliximab is effective in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis . Since there are some potentially serious adverse effects , we recommend that this treatment mainly be used in co-operation with rheumatological centres Objective : A double blind , r and omised , placebo controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of etanercept to treat adult patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . Methods : Adult patients with AS at 14 European sites were r and omly assigned to 25 mg injections of etanercept or placebo twice weekly for 12 weeks . The primary efficacy end point was an improvement of at least 20 % in patient reported symptoms , based on the multicomponent Assessment s in Ankylosing Spondylitis ( ASAS ) response criteria ( ASAS 20 ) . Secondary end points included ASAS 50 and ASAS 70 responses and improved scores on individual components of ASAS , the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index ( BASDAI ) , acute phase reactants , and spinal mobility tests . Safety was evaluated during scheduled visits . Results : Of 84 patients enrolled , 45 received etanercept and 39 received placebo . Significantly more etanercept patients than placebo patients responded at the ASAS 20 level as early as week 2 , and sustained differences were evident up to week 12 . Significantly more etanercept patients reported ASAS 50 responses at all times and ASAS 70 responses at weeks 2 , 4 , and 8 ; reported lower composite and fatigue BASDAI scores ; had lower acute phase reactant levels ; and had improved spinal flexion .  Etanercept was well tolerated . Most adverse events were mild to moderate ; the only between-group difference was injection site reactions , which occurred significantly more often in etanercept patients . Conclusions : Etanercept is a well tolerated and effective treatment for reducing clinical symptoms and signs of AS OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of methotrexate ( MTX ) compared with placebo in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . METHODS This 24 week , double bind , r and omized , placebo controlled trial compared the response between MTX 7.5 mg/week or placebo in patients with active AS . The primary outcome measure was a composite index of improvement in 5 of the following scales : severity of morning stiffness , physical well being , the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index ( BASDAI ) , the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index ( BASFI ) , the Health Assessment Question naire for Spondyloarthropathies ( HAQ-S ) , and physician and patient global assessment of disease activity . RESULTS Seventeen patients received MTX and 18 placebo .  In the intention-to-treat analysis at 24 weeks , 53 % of patients in the MTX group had a treatment response , compared with 17 % in the placebo group ( p = 0.03 ) . We observed significant improvements with MTX in physical well being ( p = 0.009 ) , BASDAI ( p = 0.02 ) , BASFI ( p = 0.02 ) , physician global assessment ( p < 0.001 ) , patient global assessment ( p = 0.03 ) , and HAQ-S ( p = 0.02 ) . In the adjusted analysis only MTX determined the improvement in the primary outcome . At the end of the trial , one patient with MTX  withdrew due to a lack of compliance , and one with placebo due to a lack of efficacy . We did not observe significant differences in rates of side effects between the 2 groups . CONCLUSION MTX is safe and effective for patients with AS . Longterm studies are needed to evaluate the permanence of its benefit OBJECTIVE Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) with infliximab , an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody , was shown to be efficacious in patients with active disease during a 3-month treatment period . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of infliximab treatment of AS for a 1-year period . METHODS This study was an open , observational , extension study of a 3-month , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial . All patients who had tolerated infliximab ( infliximab/infliximab group ) or placebo ( placebo/infliximab 12-week crossover group ) therapy for 3 months entered the open extension trial ( n = 65 ) .  Infliximab was administered at a dosage of 5 mg/kg every 6 weeks after the induction phase ( weeks 0 , 2 , and 6 ) . The primary end point was a 50 % improvement in the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index ( BASDAI ) . RESULTS At week 54 , a total of 54 of the 69 patients ( 78 % ) continued to take infliximab . The intent-to-treat primary efficacy analysis at week 54 showed that 47 % of patients in the infliximab/infliximab group ( 95 % confidence interval 31 - 63 ) and 51 % of the patients in the placebo/infliximab group ( 95 % confidence interval 36 - 67 ) achieved 50 % improvement in BASDAI scores . In the analysis of those who completed the study , the mean BASDAI scores improved between weeks 0 and 54 in both treatment groups : from 6.6 to 2.4 in the infliximab/infliximab group and from 6.3 to 2.6 in the placebo/infliximab group . The dosage of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs was reduced in approximately 70 % of the patients . There were significant improvements in measures of functioning , metrologic parameters , and quality of life . Between weeks 12 and 54 , a total of 4 patients had serious adverse events that were possibly related to infliximab and result ed in their discontinuing the study . CONCLUSION Infliximab therapy in AS patients result ed in a rapid and significant improvement in BASDAI scores ( > 50 % improvement ) and a durable response for 1 year . The safety profile of infliximab in AS was comparable to that observed in the postmarketing experience for the approved indications OBJECTIVES To assess long-term safety and clinical efficacy of etanercept 25 mg subcutaneously twice weekly up to 5 years in subjects with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . METHODS An open-label ( OL ) , multicentre , phase 4 , 156-week extension study of subjects with AS who had completed a 12-week r and omised , placebo-controlled study ( N=84 ; n=45 etanercept , n=39 placebo ) followed by a 96-week OL study ( n=81 ; n=42 etanercept/etanercept ; n=39 placebo/etanercept ) ; 59 subjects who completed the 96-week OL extension enrolled in the current OL trial and continued etanercept 25 mg BIW for an additional 156 weeks ( total duration : 264 weeks , original etanercept group ; 252 weeks , original placebo group ) . Safety was based on spontaneous reports of adverse events ( AEs ) . Last observation carried forward was used for imputation of missing values . RESULTS Thirty-seven of 59 subjects ( 63 % ) completed 5 years of etanercept treatment . Serious non infectious AEs and serious infections occurred at a rate of 0.17 and 0.03 events per subject years , respectively ; inflammatory bowel disease and uveitis ( including iritis and iridiocyclitis ) occurred at 0.01 and 0.14 , respectively . No cases of tuberculosis or opportunistic infections were reported . Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis ( ASAS ) responses and improvements in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index and spinal mobility were sustained from week 108 through week 264 . CONCLUSIONS Etanercept was well tolerated with no new safety signals detected in subjects with AS over 5 years . Clinical efficacy and improvements in function and mobility seen during the double-blind and first OL study were sustained . These results support etanercept therapy for the long-term management of this chronic disease OBJECTIVE Evaluate long-term safety and efficacy of etanercept treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . METHODS Patients with AS who previously participated in a r and omised controlled trial ( RCT ) of etanercept  were eligible to enroll in a 168-week open-label extension ( OLE ) . Safety end points included rates of adverse events ( AE ) , serious adverse events ( SAE ) , infections , serious infections and death . Efficacy end points included Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis ( ASAS20 ) response , ASAS 5/6 response and partial remission rates . RESULTS A total of 257 of 277 patients ( 92 % ) enrolled in the OLE . After up to 192 weeks of treatment with etanercept , the most common AEs were injection site reactions , headaches and diarrhoea . The exposure-adjusted rate of SAEs was 0.08 per patient-year . The rate of infections was 1.1 per patient-year , and the rate for serious infections was 0.02 per patient-year . No deaths were reported . Of patients who received  etanercept  in both the RCT and OLE and were still in the trial , 71 % were ASAS20 responders at week 96 , and 81 % were responders at week 192 . ASAS 5/6 response rates were 61 % at week 96 and 60 % at week 144 , and partial remission response rates were 41 % at week 96 and 44 % at week 192 . Placebo patients who switched to etanercept in the OLE showed similar patterns of efficacy maintenance . CONCLUSIONS Etanercept was well tolerated for up to 192 weeks in patients with AS , with no unexpected AEs or SAEs observed . No deaths were reported . Improvements in the signs and symptoms of AS were maintained for up to 192 weeks Secukinumab improved the signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis ( AS )  over 52 weeks in the phase III MEASURE 2 study . Here , we report longer‐term ( 104 weeks ) efficacy and safety results OBJECTIVE To evaluate the therapeutic effect of medicated moxibustion plus administration of salicylazosulfapyridine ( SASP ) and methotrexate ( MTX ) for treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . METHOD Ninety cases of active AS were r and omly assigned to Group A , B and C ( N = 30 in each group ) , and treated respectively with SASP and MTX , acupuncture plus SASP and MTX , and composite sulfur ( tablet ) moxibustion plus SASP and MTX for 3 successive courses ( 2 months each course with an interval of 5 days ) . RESULTS Improvement in sacroiliitis index , Schober test , occipital wall test , finger-ground distance , as well as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( ESR ) and the content of C-reactive protein ( CRP ) in Group B and C was far superior to that of Group A ( P < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSION Combined use of western medicine with acupuncture or with medicated moxibustion produces a better therapeutic effect than western medicine given alone Background and objectives Efficacy of adalimumab for ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) has been established for Western population s but not in the Chinese population . This study is the first to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in Chinese patients with AS . Methods Chinese adults with active AS who had an inadequate response or were intolerant to ≥1 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were r and omised to  adalimumab 40 mg ( N=229 )  or matching placebo ( N=115 ) subcutaneously every other week ( EOW ) for 12 weeks , followed by a 12-week open-label adalimumab 40 mg EOW phase . The primary efficacy endpoint was the percentage of patients meeting the Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society ( ASAS20 ) response criteria at week 12 . The recently developed AS Disease Activity Score ( ASDAS ) , as well as efficacy measures of spinal mobility , disease activity , physical function and quality of life were evaluated . Results At week 12 , adalimumab treatment result ed in a significantly greater percentage of ASAS20 responders than placebo ( 67.2 % versus 30.4 % , respectively ; p<0.001 ) . Differences in ASAS20 were observed as early as week 2 ( 42.8 % vs 6.1 % , respectively ; p<0.001 ) . The percentages of patients achieving ASAS40 , ASAS 5/6 and ASDAS inactive disease were significantly greater with adalimumab than placebo at week 12 ( all p<0.001 ) . Tuberculosis was reported in one patient . No cases of malignancy , lymphoma , demyelinating disease or lupus-like syndrome were reported during the study . Conclusions Adalimumab significantly reduced the signs and symptoms , improved physical function and quality of life of Chinese patients with active AS , and was generally safe and well tolerated in this population OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of etanercept treatment in Chinese patients with active ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . METHODS This was a 12-week multicenter , double-blind , placebo-controlled , r and omized phase III clinical study . The first part was a 6-week placebo-controlled period followed by a 6-week open-label period . The primary efficacy endpoint was the percentage of subjects achieving a 20 % improvement in assessment in ankylosing spondylitis ( ASAS ) ( ASAS 20 ) . The secondary efficacy endpoints were the percentage of patients achieving a 40 % improvement in ASAS ( ASAS 40 ) , achieving a 50 % improvement in ASAS ( ASAS 50 ) , achieving a 70 % improvement in ASAS ( ASAS 70 ) , and ASAS 5/6 responses at all visits , and the improvement in subject global assessment , physician global assessment , nocturnal and total back pain , bath AS functional index ( BASFI ) , bath AS disease activity index ( BASDAI ) , spinal mobility , joint assessment and quality of life assessment . All subjects in the study were evaluated for safety . RESULTS The primary endpoint , ASAS 20 at week 6 , was achieved by 86.5 % ( 64/74 ) patients in the etanercept group compared to 29.5 % ( 23/78 ) patients in the placebo group ( P < 0.001 ) . As early as week 2 , the percentages of patients achieving the ASAS 20 between the two groups were significantly different . Furthermore , the majority of secondary efficacy end points were also significantly improved . Most of adverse events ( AE ) were mild in nature , the commonest adverse events were elevated liver function levels , injection site reactions and nasopharyngitis . No death or serious AE were observed . CONCLUSION Etanercept can improve symptoms fastly , significantly and safely in Chinese patients with active AS
Results : This systematic review will provide a detailed summary of present evidence related to the efficacy and safety  of etoricoxib for patients with AS .
Conclusion : The results of this study may provide management guidance for AS treated by etoricoxib .
Background : Previous clinical trials have reported that etoricoxib has been utilized to treat ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) effectively .
However , no study systematic ally investigated the efficacy and safety of etoricoxib for patients with AS .
In this systematic review , we will assess the efficacy and safety of etoricoxib for AS .