ABSTRACT

Objectives:

The aim is to assess the clinical and demographic properties of the patients followed as ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods:

We evaluated 243 patients’ folders retrospectively which were diagnosed and followed up as AS between 2007- 2008 years. Demographical properties, follow-up parameters and treatments were assessed. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Funxional Index (BASFI), Bath AS Metrologıcal Index (BASMI), Bath AS Radiological Index (BASRI), AS Questionnaire of Life (ASQOL), Maastricht Score of Entesopathy (MASES), Eritrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed.

Results:

Male to female ratio was 3,4: 1. Means of age, age at the diagnose, delay time in diagnose were respectively 37.1±9 years, 32.4±9 years and 4.6±6 years. The mean values were respectively BASMI 7.9±2.5, BASFI 3.4±2.6, ASQOL 9.2±5.9, BASRI 6.7±2.8, VAS 45.9±28.2, entesopathy score 2.5±3.8, ESR 24.9 mm/hr, CRP 1.5±1.8 mg/dl. The 54.3% of the patients’ BASDAI scores were under 4 but near 4 with mean of 3.9±2.3. 12.8% had uveitis, 15,6% had peripherical involvement. The 3.8% had no treatment, 16.8% had only Non Steroid Anti Inflamatary Drugs (NSAID), 65.4% had monotheraphy, 6.6% had two Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs (DMARD) and 7.4% had biological agents as treatment protocols. 61.3% of the monotheraphy group were using sulfasalazine.

Conclusion:

There was no statistically significant difference in means of ages and diagnose ages between gender but delay time in diagnose was longer in women. BASRI scores were higher in men significantly. Also peripherical involvement and CRP values were higher in men. The BASDAI as showing disease activity was correlated with peripherical involvement, enthesopathy, VAS, duration of disease, delay time in diagnose, ESR and CRP values.