To Compare the Early Efficacy of Infliximab and Adalimumab for the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis and their Impacts on Inflammatory Markers

To compare and discuss the early efficacy of infliximab and adalimumab for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and their impacts on inflammatory markers is the objective of the study. A total of 180 patients with ankylosing spondylitis admitted to our hospital from June 2017 to May 2020 were selected and divided into an infliximab group and an adalimumab group by block randomization, with 90 cases in each group. The infliximab group was treated with infliximab and the adalimumab group was treated with adalimumab. Morning stiffness duration, the visual analog scale score for lower back pain and the bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index before and after treatment were evaluated, and the levels of serum C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured. After treatment, the morning stiffness duration, visual analog scale score for low back pain, bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index and serum C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels in both groups were decreased compared with the conditions before treatment (p<0.05). The morning stiffness time, visual analog scale score for lower back pain and bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index in the adalimumab group were lower than the infliximab group (p<0.05), while serum C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were higher than the infliximab group (p<0.05). For ankylosing spondylitis patients, adalimumab had a greater impact than infliximab on morning stiffness duration, visual analog scale score and bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index but a less impact than infliximab on serum inflammatory cytokines.