Management of spondyloarthropathy: new pharmacological treatment options.

Spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are a group of inflammatory arthritides classified according to common features of peripheral and spinal arthritis. The conventional anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying or slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs do appear to be efficacious in treatment of the peripheral arthritis in a comparable fashion to seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, however, their efficacy in axial disease is unproven. This review examines new pharmacological developments in the treatment of SpA including the specific features of sacroiliitis, enthesitis and spondylitis in addition to the peripheral manifestations. The main points that are discussed are new cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 specific anti-inflammatories, biological therapies, such as anti-TNF compounds, and novel uses of well-known agents.