[Anti-TNF-alpha treatment and spondyloarthropathies]

Spondyloarthropathies are characterized by both axial and peripheral joint involvement, by the association with "other diseases" mainly Psoriasis, Crohn's and Anterior Uveitis and by the high prevalence of HLA B-27. While disease modifying drugs, such as Methotrexate or Sulfasalazine, are only partially effective in controlling peripheral arthritis, the treatment of the axial part remained only symptomatic. The recently introduced anti-TNF-alpha drugs Infliximab (Remicade) and Etanercept (Enbrel) for the treatment of Crohn's disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis has been expended to Spondyloarthropathies with highly promising results. The rationale and the early beneficial results of this new approach in spondyloarthropathies are reviewed.