en Reumatology Reumatology Short Communication Short Communication <p style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><i><span style="color: blue; line-height: 115%;">Background:</span></i></b><font color="#000000"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Hip involvement in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common extraspinal arthritic manifestation, which is associated to a worse functional outcome. Little data are available on the effectiveness of conservative treatment strategies. The TNF inhibitors have been proven effective on AS activity parameters. Their structural effect on hip disease however, little is studied. </span></font></font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><i><span style="color: blue; line-height: 115%;">Case presentation:</span></i></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font color="#000000"> We describe four new cases of reparative changes of a damaged hip joint after treatment with TNF inhibitors. The average of age was 32.5 (27- 36) years. There were 3 men and 1 woman. Hip involvement was bilateral in all cases. Etanercept was prescribed in 3 cases and infliximab in 1 case. At baseline, all patients had a painful and limited hip with high disease activity and an important functional impairment. After an average of 5.5 years of treatment with TNF inhibitors, the BASRI hip evaluated in antero-posterior x-rays of the pelvis remained unchanged at 2.4. The average of mean hip joint space was 2.9mm (2.3-3.6). A widening in hip joint space was observed in all cases with less subchondral cysts.</font></span></font></span></p> <p style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><font face="Times New Roman"><b><i><span style="color: blue; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion:</span></i></b><font color="#000000"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">TNF inhibitors seem to be effective on hip joint disease in patients with AS.</span></font></font></span></p> spondylarthritis, hip, imaging, TNF inhibitors 303 305 http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-534-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Kaouther Maatallah kaoutherm1986@yahoo.fr 100319475328460013099 100319475328460013099 No Department of Rheumatology, Kassab Institut Manouba 2010, El Manar Tunis University, Tunisia Ines Mahmoud nefmhd@yahoo.fr 100319475328460013100 100319475328460013100 Yes Department of Rheumatology Charles Nicolle Hospital, 1006 Bab Souika, El Manar Tunis University, Tunisia Safa Belghali safabel@yahoo.fr 100319475328460013101 100319475328460013101 No Department of Rheumatology, Farhat Hached Hospital, 4002 Medina of Sousse, Sousse University, Tunisia Kawther Ben Abdelghani Kaouther_ba@yahoo.fr 100319475328460013102 100319475328460013102 No Department of Rheumatology, La Marsa Hospital, 2046 Sidi Daoud, El Manar, Tunis University, Tunisia Olfa Saidane olfa-saidane@yahoo.fr 100319475328460013103 100319475328460013103 No Department of Rheumatology Charles Nicolle Hospital, 1006 Bab Souika, El Manar Tunis University, Tunisia Elyes Bouajina elyesbouajina@yahoo.fr 100319475328460013104 100319475328460013104 No Department of Rheumatology, Farhat Hached Hospital, 4002 Medina of Sousse, Sousse University, Tunisia Ahmed Laatar Laatarah@yahoo.fr 100319475328460013105 100319475328460013105 No Department of Rheumatology, La Marsa Hospital, 2046 Sidi Daoud, El Manar, Tunis University, Tunisia Rawdha Tekaya rawdharawdha@yahoo.fr 100319475328460013106 100319475328460013106 No Department of Rheumatology Charles Nicolle Hospital, 1006 Bab Souika, El Manar Tunis University, Tunisia Leila Abdelmoula leila_abdelmoula@yahoo.fr 100319475328460013107 100319475328460013107 No Department of Rheumatology Charles Nicolle Hospital, 1006 Bab Souika, El Manar Tunis University, Tunisia