TY - JOUR T1 - Could tumour necrosis factor blockers inhibit the progression of future structural damage in ankylosing spondylitis? JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases JO - Ann Rheum Dis SP - 1354 LP - 1354 DO - 10.1136/ard.2007.082537 VL - 67 IS - 9 AU - N Gašperšič AU - I Serša AU - V Jevtič AU - M Tomšič AU - S Praprotnik Y1 - 2008/09/01 UR - http://ard.bmj.com/content/67/9/1354.1.abstract N2 - We read with great interest the editorial article by Schett et al,1 where the authors discuss the role of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α blockers in reducing new bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). They described the pathophysiological process, where TNF-α is a key proinflammatory cytokine, but is also a potent inhibitor of bone formation. Therefore, it is unlikely that TNF-α blockers are effective in reducing syndesmophyte growth and bridging. In other words, would TNF-α blockers inhibit the progression of structural damage even though they are proven to be very efficient in diminishing the clinical parameters of AS activity, acute-phase reactants and also active … ER -