COMPARATIVE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF BIOLOGIC VERSUS NON-BIOLOGIC THERAPIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF REACTIVE ARTHRITIS: A 52-WEEK COHORT STUDY

Reactive Arthritis (ReA) is a form of seronegative spondyloarthritis often triggered by infections, primarily from the gastrointestinal or urogenital tracts. The disease is characterized by the sudden onset of asymmetric oligoarthritis, leading to significant pain, reduced mobility, and a decline in the quality of life (Sieper et al., 2002). While conventional therapies, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), are commonly used in the management of ReA, biologic therapies—especially tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors—have emerged as a promising alternative in treating refractory cases (Braun & Sieper, 2007). Despite the potential of biologic agents, their high cost and the risk of adverse effects require careful consideration, particularly in resource-limited settings (Coates et al., 2016).