ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS-MANAGEMENT

SUMMARY

1. Goal: to help patients fuse their spines in a functional position. Treatments include stretching exercises, posture training, and proper pillow positioning during sleep.

2. NSAIDs or COX-2 for pain and stiffness. NSAIDs have been shown to retard radiologic progression.

3. Peripheral disease should be given a trial of therapy with sulfasalazine or methotrexate.

4. Axial disease usually should be treated with TNF inhibitors.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].