The relationships of diseases parameters and the quality of life with cervical spine involvement features in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

RA and AS are systemic inflammatory, chronic diseases. Cervical spine involvement is a common abnormality and both cause disability.The aim of this study was to: determine cervical spine involvement clinically and radiologically features in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and to evaluate the disability and quality of life by using different measurments in patients.Forty- two patients who were diagnosed as AS according to Modified New York criteria (F = 11 ve M = 31, age 36,3 ± 8,11) and fifty- four patients who were diagnosed as RA (F = 48, E = 8, age 50,7 ± 10,9) according to American College of Rheumatology were enrolled in this study. All patients in the general physical examination and cervical spine range of motion and neurological examination were evaluated. Open mouth odontoid radiographies, flexion and extansion lateral cervical radiographies and MRI images were obtained. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) , Rheumatoid factor (RF) determined in all patients. Disease activity was assessed using DAS28 in RA patients and BASDAI in AS patients. To determinate the quality of life and disability used to Health Assessment Questionnaire, RA Quality of Life, SF - 36 in RA patients and Health Assessment Questionnaire - SPA, AS Quality of Life, SF - 36 in AS patients were performed.Six (%11,2) patients with RA and six (% 14,8) patients with AS had AAS on radiographs. Five (% 15,6) patients with RA and seven (% 25,9) patients with AS had pannus on MRI. AA joint space 3 mm or on the 3 mm one patient with RA, two patients with AS had pannus formation on MRI. Three (% 80) patients with RA and five (% 71,5) patients with as had pannus on MRI who had no AAS on radiographs.There were no signifiant relationship between disase activity and AAS in all patients. The quality of life was worse in paitents with RA who had AAS.Finally, although there is no sufficient number of our patients compared with the literature in a group of us to AAS is somewhat less common, it might have been caused by regional differences. Especially cervical spine involvement in RA patients, those related quality of life has deteriorated significantly, as interesting patients with AS did not show clear relationship was observed.İn brief; as invetigatons the cervical spine involvement in patients with RA and AS direct radiography should not be contented, if possible, sholud be taken from MRI images. Because in patients who had under 3 mm of joint space involvement can be determinated.Both patients with cervical spine involvement also affects the quality of life and that is show us the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.Key words: Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, cervical spine, quality of life, aa joint