Assessment of therapeutic response in ankylosing spondylitis patients undergoing anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy by whole-body magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: Multifocal musculoskeletal inflammation is common in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and is effectively treated by expensive anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) therapy. This study evaluated assessment of response by whole-body (WB) MRI compared with clinical assessment in AS patients during etanercept therapy.

Methods: Ten patients with AS underwent a 12-month therapy with etanercept.