Immunosuppressant for Ankylosing Spondylitis Reduces Acute Anterior Uveitis Occurrence

The use of golimumab for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis leads to significantly reduced acute anterior uveitis (AAU) occurrence and disease activity, according to results of the GO-EASY study.

The effect of golimumab on the incidence of AAU in AS has not been well-established.

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For this study, the researchers evaluated data of 93 participants treated with golimumab for 1 year to measure AAU occurence in the year prior to the initial tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor (TNFi) treatment and during golimumab treatment.

Both disease activity—measured by ASDAS—and treatment response—measured by Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society’s ASAS20 score—were also evaluated.

All participants had a median disease duration of 7 years and an Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) of 3.1.

Overall, AAU occurrence decreased from 11.1 to 2.2 per 100 patient-years during golimumab treatment.

After 3 months of treatment, 41% of the participants reached a clinically significant improvement in ASDAS score and 36% achieved an ASDAS20 response. At 1 year, 49% of participants had achieved an ASAS20 response.

“Golimumab can be considered a good choice in patients with AS who need a TNFi, especially in cases of recurrent AAU,” the researchers concluded.

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

Bentum RE, Heslinga SC, Nurmohamed MT, et al. Reduced occurrence rate of acute anterior uveitis in ankylosing spondylitis treated with golimumab — the GO-EASY study. [published online November 1, 2018]. J Rheumatol. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.180312.