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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Are Enbrel Injections Advisable For Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Doctors, I m from Hong Kong. I m a Chinese. My son is now 18 years old. He is 87kg. MRI report as follow :- The joint spaces of both SI joints are normal and preserved. On T1 images, hyposignal intensity is seen in both SI joints. This is shown on STIR as hypersingal intensities. There is no fracture or erosive change. No fusion is seen in both SI joints. There is also no abnormality seen in the lower lumbar spine included in the study. Comment: 1. Bilateral sacral-ileitis. 2. Ankylosing spondylitis to be considered. Clinical correlation. Blood test ESR 41mm/1st hr C-Reactive Protein - high sensitive 6.0 mg/L Our doctor suggested to use Embrel Injections once a week. I want to ask : 1. Is it Safety to use? 2. What are the side effects of ENBREL? 3. Another oral medication to control inflammation, prevent complications fight? I Thank you!
Fri, 7 Aug 2015
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Neurologist,  's  Response
I read your question carefully ans I umderstand your concern.

Enbrel is a drug which suppresses the immune system. As such its use does increase the risk for infections. There are also some concerns about some malignancies such as lymphoma, although there is no clear evidence in that.
Among other medications there are non steroids anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID) which have a better safety profile. They simply alleviate symptoms though, do not affect the course of the disease. Other options are corticosteroids or other immune suppressants but they have plenty of side effects as well.
Etanercept group of drugs are the only ones who are thought to have some modifying effect on the disease course, though they do not stop it.

I hope to have been of help.
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Are Enbrel Injections Advisable For Ankylosing Spondylitis?

I read your question carefully ans I umderstand your concern. Enbrel is a drug which suppresses the immune system. As such its use does increase the risk for infections. There are also some concerns about some malignancies such as lymphoma, although there is no clear evidence in that. Among other medications there are non steroids anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID) which have a better safety profile. They simply alleviate symptoms though, do not affect the course of the disease. Other options are corticosteroids or other immune suppressants but they have plenty of side effects as well. Etanercept group of drugs are the only ones who are thought to have some modifying effect on the disease course, though they do not stop it. I hope to have been of help.