Biologic DMARDs are a cornerstone treatment for severe axial spondyloarthritis. Although indications for treatment initiation are well codified, the timing and modalities for tapering remain unclear, despite medical and economic concerns. Encouraging data about treatment tapering are emerging that might guide future management strategies.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Sieper, J. & Poddubnyy, D. Axial spondyloarthritis. Lancet 390, 73–84 (2017).
Smolen, J. S. et al. Treating spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis, to target: recommendations of an international task force. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 73, 6–16 (2014).
Gratacós, J. et al. Non-inferiority of dose reduction versus standard dosing of TNF-inhibitors in axial spondyloarthritis. Arthritis Res. Ther. 21, 11 (2019).
Van Der Heijde, D. et al. 2016 update of the ASAS-EULAR management recommendations for axial spondyloarthritis. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 76, 978–991 (2017).
Rudwaleit, M. et al. The development of Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society classification criteria for axial spondyloarthritis (part II): validation and final selection. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 68, 777–783 (2009).
Navarro-Compán, V. et al. Anti-TNF discontinuation and tapering strategies in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic literature review. Rheumatology (Oxford) 55, 1188–1194 (2016).
Li, K. et al. Full dose, half dose, or discontinuation of etanercept biosimilar in early axial spondyloarthritis patients: a real-world study in China. Arch. Med. Sci. https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2018.76141 (2018).
Park, J. W. et al. Impact of dose tapering of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor on radiographic progression in ankylosing spondylitis. PLOS ONE 11, e0168958 (2016).
Yates, M. et al. Is Etanercept 25 mg once weekly as effective as 50 mg at maintaining response in patients with ankylosing spondylitis? A randomized control trial. J. Rheumatol. 42, 1177–1185 (2015).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ziade, N.R., Baraliakos, X. Tapering bDMARDs in axial SpA — what is the current evidence?. Nat Rev Rheumatol 15, 322–324 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-019-0201-2
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-019-0201-2