Medications
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [5] such as naproxen (Naprosyn) and indomethacin (Indocin, tivorbex) are the most common drugs prescribed by a doctor for patients. These drugs help to reduce pain, stiffness, and inflammation. However, these drugs can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding [6].
If NSAIDs are not working, your doctor might recommend starting a biologic medication, such as a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker or an interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitor. TNF blockers target a cell protein responsible for inflammation in the body. IL-17 plays an active role in the body’s defense against infection and also has a role in inflammation.
TNF blockers can reduce pains, stiffness, and tender or swollen joints. They are used by injecting the drug under the skin or via an intravenous line. The five TNF blockers approved by the food and drug administration to treat ankylosing spondylitis are Adalimumab (Humira), Etanercept (Enbrel), Certolizumab (Cimzia), and Infliximab (remicade).
IL-17 inhibitors legalized by FDA to treat ankylosing spondylitis include secukinumab (cosentyx) and ixekizumab (Taltz)
TNF blockers and IL-17 inhibitors can bring back untreated antibiotics and make people more prone to infection. Therefore, it is important to use these drugs under the supervision of a doctor.
People that are unable to take TNF blockers or IL-17 inhibitors because of several health conditions are advised to use Janus kinase inhibitor tofacitinib (xeljanz). This medication has been approved for psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Research is still being done on how effective it is in treating ankylosis spondylitis.
Conclusion
People eventually get disabled because of bones in their spine fusing in a static position. Ankylosis does not affect life expectancy significantly anymore because of modern treatment methods.
References
[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/kyphosis
[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sacroiliitis/multimedia/sacroiliac-joints/img-20005962#:~:text=The%20sacroiliac%20joints%20link%20your,sides%20of%20your%20lower%20back.
[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/fatigue#:~:text=Fatigue%20is%20a%20term%20used,it’s%20not%20the%20same%20thing.
[4] https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/aortic-aneurysm/your-aorta-the-pulse-of-life#:~:text=The%20aorta%20is%20the%20main,brain%2C%20muscles%20and%20other%20cells.
[5] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nsaids/#:~:text=Non%2Dsteroidal%20anti%2Dinflammatory%20drugs,causes%20of%20long%2Dterm%20pain.
[6] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastrointestinal-bleeding/symptoms-causes/syc-20372729#:~:text=Gastrointestinal%20(GI)%20bleeding%20is%20a,and%20can%20be%20life%2Dthreatening.