Abstract：Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Iguratimod in treating refractory ankylosing spondylitis(AS). Methods: A total of 36 patients with refractory AS were randomly assigned into 2 groups: the experimental group were treated with Iguratimod at a dose of 25 mg, twice a day, the control group were treated with their present antirheumatic drugs. The primary efficacy endpoint was the percentage of patients achieving the 20％ improvement in assessment in AS（ASAS 20）．The secondary efficacy endpoints included the percentage of patients achieving ASAS 5/6 responses(ASAS 5/6)，Bath AS disease activity index 50（BASDAI 50）, the percentage of patients achieving a 50％ improvement in ASAS （ASAS 50）and the ASAS partial remission．The improvement in BASDAI, Bath AS functional index（BASFI），subject global assessment，total back pain, morning stiffness time，erythrocyte sedimentation rate（ESR） and the C reactive protein （CRP） were observed regularly．All subjects in the study were evaluated for safety． Results: At week 12, the percentage of patients achieving the ASAS 20 was 44.4%, at week 20, the percentage of patients achieving the ASAS 20 was 66.7%. Furthermore，the secondary efficacy endpoints include ASAS 5/6, BASDAI 50, ASAS 50 ,ASAS partial remission were also improved．At week 24, the percentage of patients achieving the ASAS 5/6 was 61.1%, the percentage of patients achieving the BASDAI 50 was 55.6%, the percentage of patients achieving the ASAS 50 was 50% and the percentage of patients achieving the ASAS partial response was 27.8%. Conclusion: Iguratimod can effectively alleviate the refractory AS patients clinical symptoms．
2016, Vol. 26 
