Evaluation of 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement and Sleep Quality After Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis- a Preliminary Study

Background: /Aim : Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy (anti-TNF-α) can decrease cardiovascular morbidity in ankylosing spondylitis by decreasing disease activity and improving sleep quality, and blood pressure parameters. This study assessed the impact of anti-TNF-α therapy on sleep quality, blood pressure variability, and blood pressure dipper patterns, which are predictive of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight AS patients commencing anti-TNF-α therapy were included in this study. Disease activity, blood pressure variability, dipper patterns, and sleep quality were evaluated at baseline and after three months of anti-TNF-α therapy. Results: The study included 28 patients with axial spondyloarthritis. Post-treatment, disease activity scores and sleep quality improved, but there wasn’t a significant change in blood pressure variability. Although the percentage of patients with dipper phenomena increased, there wasn’t a statistical significant change in overral dipper rate. Conclusion: Despite improvements in sleep quality, there wasn’t a change in dipper rate and blood pressure variability. While anti-TNF-α therapy may enhance sleep quality, its long-term effects on reducing cardiovascular mortality require further validation.