Short-term Efficacy and Safety of Secukinumab in Pakistani Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis

Objective: To determine the short-term efficacy and safety of Secukinumab in Pakistani patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis in regular clinical practice. Study Design: Case series. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Rheumatology, National Hospital and Medical Centre, Lahore Pakistan from Aug 2019 to Feb 2021. Methodology: Patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis according to assessment of spondyloarthritis International Society criteria and psoriatic arthritis according to classification criteria for psoriatic arthritis (CASPAR), who were started on Secukinumab, were enrolled. Disease activity scores and adverse events were recorded in the 12th and 24th weeks. The primary outcomes were remission and low disease activity, and the secondary outcomes were the recording of Adverse events on each visit. Results: There were 42 patients registered. The mean duration of disease was 11.86±7.31 years for AS and 9.19±4.87 years for PsA patients. At 24 weeks of follow-up, 10% of patients discontinued treatment, 73.7% of AS patients, and 94.7% of PsA patients achieved complete remission or low disease activity. No significant AEs were noted at 24 weeks, except for upper respiratory tract infections. One patient developed a lower respiratory tract infection after 24 weeks of treatment, and one died during treatment (possible myocardial infarction). Conclusion: Secukinumab was effective and safe in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis in this study,despite advanced disease with long disease duration.Keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis, Efficacy, Psoriatic arthritis, Safety, Secukinumab.