Effects of different doses of azithromycin on BASDAI, MMP-3 and MMP-9 in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis

Feng Qin¹, Qianqian Zhang², Xiaochen Wang³, Tao Ding^1*

¹Department of Spine Surgery, Dong Ying Sheng Li OilField Central Hospital, Dongying, 257000, Shandong Province, China - ²Department of Infectious Disease, Dong Ying Sheng Li OilField Central Hospital, Dongying, 257000, Shandong Province, China - ³Department of Pharmacy, Dong Ying Sheng Li OilField Central Hospital, Dongying, 257000, Shandong Province, China

Introduction: To investigate the role of different doses of azithromycin on Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), MMP-3h and MMP-9 in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: A total of 194 patients with AS were collected, including 98 patients treated with high-dose azithromycin as the study group (SG) and 96 patients treated with low-dose azithromycin as the control group (CG).

Results:Post treatment, the total effective rate of the SG was evidentlyenhanced (P < 0.05). BASDAI and BASFI were evidently decreased in both groups (P < 0.05), and the degree of decrease in the SG was evidently greater than that in the CG (P < 0.05). MMP-3 and MMP-9 in the two groups were evidently decreased (P < 0.05), and MMP-3 and MMP-9 in the SG were evidently higher than those in the CG (P < 0.05). CRP and ESR in both groups were evidently decreased (P < 0.05), and CRP and ESR in the SG were evidently higher than those in the CG (P < 0.05). Post treatment, the morning stiffness time, hip-ground distance and occipital-wall distance of the SG and the CG were evidently reduced (P < 0.05), and the degree of reduction in the SG was evidently higher than that in the CG (P < 0.05). The flexibility of spine and chest in two groups enhancedevidently (P < 0.05), and the degree of increase in SG was evidently higher than that in CG (P < 0.05). There was no evident difference in adverse reactions between the SG and the CG (P > 0.05). Post treatment, the scores of patients in both groups were evidently improved (P < 0.05), and the patients in the SG were evidently higher than those in the CG in emotion, health and life (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: High-dose azithromycin can evidently improve the clinical efficacy of AS patients, improve MMP-3, MMP-9, CRP and ESR, and effectively improve the BASDAI score, physical sign score and quality of life.