Cardiovascular changes in patients with Ankylosing spondylitis

Morbiditiy and mortality related to cardiovascular diseases in patients with ankylosing spondylitis are common. Most important cause of this increase is due to chronic inflammation. In this study, it is planned to analyse echocardiographic examination and serum type b natriuretic peptide (BNP) level measurement and it?s effects on myocardial diastolic functions and atherosclerotic process in cardiovasculary asymptomatic patients.Totally 66 patients with AS (19 active, 47 inactive patient) and 21 healthy people diagnosed in this study. We evaluate both group with spectral and tissue doppler echocardiography and we measure carotis intima media thickness (CIMT), aortic strain and distensibility, serum brain natriuretic peptid levels, Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), age, sex, body mass index, eritrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reaktive protein and High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-K), Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-K), triglyceride and total cholesterol. mE and mA flow rates were significantly reduced in patients (p=0.015, p=0.035). Em value was lower in patients with AS than healthy control group (p=0.044). A and E/A ratio were diffirent in patients whom BASDAI score>4 and BASDAI score<4 ( p=0.026, p=0.021). Aorta elasticity was similar in AS and control group, but aortic strain and distensibility were significantly different in patients treated with DMARD and patients treated with anti TNF alpha (p=0.005 and p=0.012). Also CIMT measure has no difference in patients and healthy group (0.69±0.2 mm and 0.63 mm±0.2; p= 0.40)Our study indicates that; myocardial diastolic functions are worsened in young patients with as according to the healthy control group but tissue doppler is more reliable in the evaluation of this situation and anti TNF alpha treatment has a positive effect on the aorta compliance in the patients with AS and there is no relationship between AS and aterosklerozis. The results will be suitable to evaluate a large number of patients.