Assessment of treatment outcome with etanercept in nraxSpA by baseline CRP

Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) is an inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints. Effective therapies are available, including etanercept, which is part of the anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) class. Previous work has demonstrated that predictors of response to anti-TNF agents include a raised C-reactive protein (CRP) (1-4). However the level of raised CRP that predicts a response to etanercept has not been determined.

This project is significant because often patients with nr-axSpA have low positive CRP levels and the level at which patients will respond to anti-TNFs like etanercept is not known. This work has the potential to provide significant guidance to practising clinicians on when it is best to commence agents like etanercept with the expectation that they will respond. Therefore this work can provide guidance to clinicians on when etanercept use would be of limited value and when it would be of good value to the patient (and secondarily to the payer).