Study: Thalidomide May Be Promising Treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Thalidomide appears to be a promising treatment for patients with ankylosing spondylitis who have failed to respond to conventional therapies, according to a study reported in the December issue of the Journal of Rheumatology.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine.

Researchers at Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan studied 13 ankylosing spondylitis patients who had failed to respond to conventional nonbiologic therapies such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, sulfasalazine and methotrexate.

The patients were treated with oral doses of thalidomide, beginning at 100 milligrams daily for one week and increasing to 200 milligrams daily for another 23 weeks.

Three patients withdrew due to rash and two others failed to complete the study because thalidomide was ineffective in the early going.

Of the eight patients who completed the trial, four patients experienced at least a 50 percent improvement in their ankylosing spondylitis, while the other four attained at least a 20 percent improvement. Dry mouth, constipation and dizziness were common adverse side effects, but none of these were severe.

Other sources: Journal of Rheumatology 2003 Dec; 30(12): 2627-31