Clinical characteristics of the study population (n=201)
| Variable | |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | 53.1±13.6 |
| Male | 128 (63.7%) |
| Duration of psoriasis (years) | 26.5±13.5 |
| Duration of PsA (years) | 18.5±11.1 |
| Duration since first diagnosis of axial involvement (years) | 9±7.7 |
| Number of swollen joints | 1.6±3.6 |
| Number of tender and/or swollen joints | 4.1±7.3 |
| Patients with tender entheseal points | 29 (14.4%) |
| Patients with fibromyalgia | 12 (6%) |
| ESR (mm/1st h) | 17.5±17.9 |
| Patients with elevated ESR | 73 (37%) |
| CRP (mg/l) | 12.2±17.3 |
| Patients with elevated CRP | 43 (30.3%) |
| Patients global assessment | 3.3±2.5 |
| Physician global assessment | 2.2±2.0 |
| BASDAI score | 3.5±2.4 |
| ASDAS-B* | 2.2±1.1 |
| ASDAS-C† | 2.43±1.1 |
| ASQoL | 5.3±5.6 |
| BASFI score | 3.1±2.9 |
| Use of NSAIDs | 110 (54.7%) |
| Use of DMARDs | 112 (55.7%) |
| Use of anti-TNFα agents | 68 (34%) |
| HLA-B*27 carriers | 45 (23%) |
| Distribution of axial involvement: | |
| Cervical spine | 49 (23.6%) |
| Thoracic spine | 47 (24.7%) |
| Lumbar spine | 44 (23.2%) |
| Sacroiliitis only | 111 (58.4%) |
↵* 194 patients.
↵† 156 patients.
ASDAS, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score; ASQoL, Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life; BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; CRP, C reactive protein; DMARDs, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PsA, psoriatic arthritis; TNF, tumour necrosis factor.