Clinical Efficacy and Adverse Reactions of Sulfasalazine Combined with Thalidomide in the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and adverse reactions of combining sulfasalazine(SSZ) with
thalidomide(THD) for treating ankylosing spondylitis(AS). Methods: Fifty patients with ankylosing spondylitis were randomly divided
into a control group and an observation group, with 25 patients in each group. The control group was administered oral SSZ alone, whereas
the observation group received a combination of oral SSZ and THD. Following a 12-month treatment period, the therapeutic outcomes of
both groups were assessed. Evaluations included the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing
Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and the incidence of adverse
reactions, all measured before and after the treatment phase. Results: After twelve months of treatment, the observation group demonstrated
a higher total effective rate compared to the control group (P < 0.01). The observation group demonstrated significantly lower BASDAI and
BASFI scores compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Similarly, the observation group exhibited reduced ESR and CRP levels relative to
the control group (P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse reactions did not differ significantly between the observation and control groups (?2
= 0.000, P = 1.000). Conclusion: The combination of SSZ and THD in the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis effectively improved the symptoms.