Anti-TNF Therapy and Nerve Conduction Studies in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis

Demyelinating lesions in central nervous system after anti-TNF agents were reported previously. There are limited studies investigating the effects of anti-TNF treatments on the peripheral nervous system. The aim of this study is to investigate whether peripheral nerves are affected due to long-term use of anti-TNF agents.

Patients with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis who received conventional or anti-TNF therapy for five years at Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as conventional group and anti-TNF group according to the treatment they received. All patients were evaluated in a single section. Sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functionality Index (BASFI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) scores were recorded. Median-ulnar motor and sensory conduction studies and tibial-peroneal motor and sural nerve sensory conduction studies were performed in both upper extremities of all patients. Median, ulnar, and tibial nerve F-response studies were also performed.