The assesment of morphologic evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis by carotid B-mode ultrasonography in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

The Assesment of Morphologic Evidence of Subclinical Atherosclerosis by CarotidB-mode Ultrasonography in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.Selman Unverdi.SUMMARYThis study was conducted between January 2005 and May 2006. The 26 patients (16male and 10 female) were selected from rheumatology department and 20 healthy controls (12male and 8 female) were selected from internl medicine outpatient clinic. The laboratoryparameters of all subjects were detected retrospectively from database of hospital. CarotidIMT of the subjects were measured by a single experienced examiner and morphologicevidence of atherosclerosis were assesed in all subjects.The data of AS patients didn?t include a history of extra-articular manifastations. 26(100 %) were on NSAID treatment, 25 (96,2 %) patients on salazopyrin, and five (19,2 %)patients were on methotrexate. Patients had never used etanercept and/or steroid treatment.The overall prevalence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques was higher among the ASpatients than the healthy controls [prevalence of plaques were 19,2 % (5/26) in AS patientsand 0 % ( 0/20) in healthy controls, P=0.038]. Mean IMT values of the right and left carotidarteries of AS patients were higher than control subjects (P<0.001).The clinical markers of inflamation (ESR, CRP) were higher in AS patients. Therewas a significant correlation between age, LDL levels, Schober?s test and carotid IMT. Therewas no correlation between other parameters and carotid IMT.The most significant limitation of this study is the small sample size. Therefore, alarger study is needed to confirm correlation between inflamation markers and carotid IMT. Alarger study may demonstrate a correlation between inflamation markers, disease activityindex, radiological index and carotid IMT.