Background Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have a higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared with the general population [1]. Traditional methods of assessing cardiovascular risk not always reflect the real risk of cardiovascular disease, so it is important to look for clinical markers of cardiovascular risk related with musculoskeletal disorder.

Objectives The goal of the present study is to establish the relationship between the rigidity of arterial wall, current activity parameters and the mobility of the spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis without cardiovascular disease.

Methods 91 patients, fulfilled to the modified New York criteria for AS, included in the study (age 41,89±12,36 year, disease duration 13,89±10,56 year, male – 49 patients). Patients with cardiovascular diseases and/or the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in carotids were excluded. Augmentation index (AixB) measured in the brachial artery, pulse wave velocity in the aorta (PWAo) (arteriograph Tensioclinik, Hungary). Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), highsensitive C-reactive protein (CRP, mg/l) were determined as current activity parameters. Components of the Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) were taken into account as axial mobility parameters. For statistical analysis used SPSS17.

Results Significant relationships were found between AixB and chest expansion (Spearmen's R= -0.28, p=0.032), the tragus-wall distance (R= -0.44, p=0.001), the cervical rotation (R= -0.39, p=0.002), the lateral mobility of the lumbar spine (R= -0.29, p=0.03), the intermalleolar distance (R= -0.34, p=0.01), mSchober's test (R= -0.39, p=0.02), and BASMI (R=0.38, p=0.04).

PWAo was correlated with chest expansion (R= -0.36, p=0.006), the lateral mobility of the lumbar spine (R = -0.29, p=0.03), intermalleolar distance (R= -0.41, p=0.002), the BASMI (R=0.36, p=0.007).

Statistically significant relationship between arterial stiffness parameters and current activity of AS parameters (CRP index BASDAI, index ASDAS) was not found, table1.

Conclusions Arterial stiffness in ankylosing spondylitis patients without cardiovascular diseases is interralated with spinal mobility, but not with the current disease activity.

References

1. Lehtinen K. Ann Rheum Dis. 1993; 52:174-6.

Disclosure of Interest None declared