Resorlu, HaticeKaya, TaciserGünaydin, RezzanGöksel Karatepe, Altinay2025-01-272025-01-2720151306-8814https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12428/14140The aim of this study were to monitor the clinical activity of the disease for 24 months in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treating with TNF-a blockers, to evaluate the response to treatment and effect to quality of life, to determine the side effect profile and frequency and to evaluate the cases decided to make switches due to side effects or ineffectiveness. Seventeen AS and 8 Ra patients were added to the study. All the parameters monitored throughout 24 months were recorded at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 th months. Monitorization of the cases were carried out utilizing assesment parameters and response criteria recommended by ASAS for AS patient and using ACR disease activity measures and treatment response criteria for RA patients. Disability and quality of life of all patients were evaluated by Health Assessment Questionnaire-HAQ) ve short form- 36 (SF-36). The side effects observed along with treatment period were recorded. Seventeen patients with AS (4 female, 13 male) and 8 patients with RA (7 female, 1 male) were recruited into the study. The mean disease duration were 121.41 ±92.67 months and 162.50±131.91 months for patients with AS and RA respectively. Improvements at varying degrees were observed for disease activity, quality of life and disability status in AS and RA patients who were treated with TNF-a blockers. Particularly, improvement was more evident in self assessment scales. However, exacerbations were noted from time to time in the course of treatment, resulting in a need of a switch. Patients in an early disease stage and those with a better initial functional condition were found to reveal a beter treatment response. No serious infections, tuberculosis or no other severe side effects were observed. In the present study TNF-? blocker treatment was observed to be effective in inhibiting disease activity in AS and RA patients. Moreover, improvements were recorded for level of quality of life and disability status and no severe side effects were experienced. © 2015, Anatolian Journal of Clinical Investigation. All rights reserved.trinfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessAnkylos?ng spondylitis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Tumor necros?s factor-alphaArticle941821882-s2.0-84954412828N/A