Real-world experience of secukinumab treatment for ankylosing spondylitis at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath.

We reviewed our experience of treating ankylosing spondylitis patients with the IL-17 inhibitor secukinumab at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath. A total of 76 patients were included, of whom secukinumab was the first-line biologic drug used in 24, second line in 23, and third line in 29 patients, respectively. Only 5 patients discontinued the drug due to side effects before their first outpatient review, including 1 new case of inflammatory bowel disease. Significant improvements were seen in all disease outcome measures in patients receiving secukinumab as their first-line biologic agent, with a trend to improved mean BASDAI and BASFI even in patients receiving it as a second- or third-line biologic agent. This real-world analysis adds to the evidence recommending secukinumab as a largely safe and effective treatment for ankylosing spondylitis.Key Points• Secukinumab was efficacious for improving short-term mean disease activity and function in our cohort of ankylosing spondylitis patients, regardless of whether used as the first-, second-, or third-line biologic disease-modifying drug.• There were very low rates of discontinuation due to side effects in our cohort of secukinumab-treated ankylosing spondylitis patients.