Successful treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with alternative and complementary medicine withdrawal of adalimumab treatment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Current treatment strategies for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) include adalimumab and other biological drugs. However, treatment failures and side effects are commonly observed. This report documents the successful use of supplements and dietary changes to treat a patient with AS after cessation of adalimumab therapy.

PATIENT PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old human leukocyte antigen B27 positive female patient with AS showed no improvement when treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The patient then began adalimumab therapy with some success; however, after nine months, she developed a disseminated and refractory Molluscum contagiosum infection. Adalimumab was withdrawn, and the patient started taking supplements, while adopting an anti-inflammatory diet (dairy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free). Normalization of inflammatory markers was achieved after two months, and magnetic resonance imaging of the sacroiliac revealed a notable physical improvement.