Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the axial spine. Etanercept is a Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor (anti-TNF) that is widely used in the treatment of AS. The most common side effects of etanercept are infection, rash, and injection site reaction. Here, we reported an adverse event probably associated with etanercept.
Case Presentation: A 30-year-old male patient with AS initiated etanercept due to uncontrolled back pain despite adequate doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. He developed erectile dysfunction (ED) within 1 month of etanercept treatment. ED disappeared after switching to secukinumab.
Conclusion: There is limited data on the potential effects of anti-TNF on sexual function. ED might be a rare side effect of etanercept that resolves upon discontinuation of the drug. Secukinumab might be considered as an option in case of etanercept induced ED. Even though ED is not a life-threatening side effect, switching medications could significantly improve patients’ quality of life.
Key words: Etanercept, tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor, erectile dysfunction, ankylosing spondylitis, case report.
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