Arthritis Drug May Help Ease Other Type of Joint Pain

According to the results of a study conducted in both theUnited States and Europe, adalimumab (Humira), a commonlyused rheumatoid arthritis drug, also may help toreduce the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Thefindings were presented at the annual scientific meeting ofthe American College of Rheumatology in San Diego, Calif.

The study included 315 AS patients who had no successwith at least 1 other form of therapy. The patients wererandomly assigned either 40 mg of adalimumab or a placebofor 24 weeks. Researchers used 5 assessment methodsto measure the patients' clinical responses to the treatment.The goal was a 20% improvement in AS signs andsymptoms.

The researchers found that, at 12 and 24 weeks, morethan twice as many patients taking the adalimumabreached the 20% symptom-improvement goal, comparedwith those taking the placebo. Some patients showedimprovement as early as 2 weeks into the study.