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Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive disease of which spinal fusion is the clinical and pathological hallmark. Thalidomide has some efficacy in treating axial inflammation in AS.1 Here, we report clinical responses and changes of serum macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) in Chinese male patients with active AS taking thalidomide.
This study enrolled 29 male patients with active AS, whose Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) was 3 or above.2 A total of 16 patients not intending to have children within the next 2 years took thalidomide (75 mg every night postoperatively) and diclofenac sodium (50 mg 3 times a day postoperatively) for 12 weeks; other patients took diclofenac sodium (50 mg 3 times a day postoperatively) alone. There were no …
Footnotes
Patient consent Obtained.
Ethics approval This study was conducted with the approval of the China Medical University.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.