Therapeutic Targets for Ankylosing Spondylitis – Recent Insights and Future Prospects

Abstract

Fabio Massimo Perrotta,1 Silvia Scriffignano,2 Francesco Ciccia,2 Ennio Lubrano1 1Academic Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “Vincenzo Tiberio”, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy; 2Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, ItalyCorrespondence: Ennio Lubrano, Academic Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “Vincenzo Tiberio”, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy, Tel/Fax [phone], Email [email protected]: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease belonging to the axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), a group of diseases that affects the axial skeleton and causes severe pain and disability. An early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can reduce the severity of the disease and the risk of progression. TNF-α inhibitors demonstrated efficacy and effectiveness in axSpA patients by reducing disease activity, minimizing inflammation and improving the quality of life. More recently, new insights in pathogenesis of axSpA, including the discovery of the role of IL-23/IL-17 axis and intracellular pathways, led to the development of new biologics and small molecules that improve our therapeutic armamentarium. New alternatives are also being soon available. The aim of this paper is to narratively review the recent insights and future prospects in the treatment of AS and, more in general, axSpA.Keywords: axial spondyloarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, treatment, biologic drugs, JAK inhibitors

Keywords

• axial spondyloarthritis
• ankylosing spondylitis
• treatment
• biologic drugs
• jak inhibitors