CONTRIBUTION OF BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT TO THE FINAL EFFECT OF REHABILITATION IN PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

Background
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) primarily targets the spine and sacroiliac joints, manifesting as a chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition. The aim of the study was to investigate the benefits of biological therapy on the final effect of rehabilitation in patients with AS.

Material and methods
A total of 60 patients with a mean age of 45 years who were diagnosed with stage II-III AS participated in the study. In addition to rehabilitation, 30 patients received conventional and 30 biological treatment. The functional disability was assessed using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) questionnaire and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) questionnaire was used to assess disease activity.

Results
Significant reductions in functional disability and disease activity were observed in both groups of patients (p˂0.001) after treatment (conventional/biological and rehabilitation). Statistical processing of the outcome results revealed that patients in the second group (with biological treatment) had a significantly lower rate of functional disability (BASFI=31) after treatment compared to the first group of patients (BASFI=35) (p=0.032). Disease activity was comparable in both groups of patients after treatment, but no significant difference was found (p=0.063).

Conclusions
The study demonstrated that rehabilitation has a positive effect on functional disability and disease activity, with significantly better outcomes found in the biological therapy group of patients compared to the conventional therapy group of patients.