Recommendations by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology on the Use of Biological Therapies in Axial Spondyloarthritis

Abstract

Objective: Recent data published on biological therapy in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) since the last publication of the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (SER) has led to the generation of a review of these recommendations based on the best possible evidence. These recommendations should be a reference for rheumatologists and those involved in the treatment of patients with axSpA.

Methods: Recommendations were drawn up following a nominal group methodology and based on systematic reviews. The level of evidence and grade of recommendation were classified according to the model proposed by the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford. The level of agreement was established through the Delphi technique.

Results: In this review, we did an update of the evaluation of disease activity and treatment objectives. We included the new drugs with approved therapeutic indication for axSpA. We reviewed both the predictive factors of the therapeutic response and progression of radiographic damage. Finally, we drafted some recommendations for the treatment of patients refractory to anti-tumor necrosis factor, as well as for the possible optimization of biological therapy. The document also includes a table of recommendations and a treatment algorithm.

Conclusions: We present an update of the SER recommendations for the use of biological therapy in patients with axSpA.

Keywords: Axial spondyloarthritis; Biologic therapy; Espondiloartritis axial; Espondiloartritis periférica; Peripheral spondyloarthritis; Recomendaciones; Recommendations; Sociedad Española de Reumatología; Spanish Society of Rheumatology; Terapia biológica; Tratamiento; Treatment.