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Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation
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Atherosclerosis in Egyptian patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation volume 41, pages 1–7 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic inflammatory disorder with extra-articular features including cardiovascular diseases.

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the presence of atherosclerosis in Egyptian patients with AS and its relation to disease activity.

Patients and methods

Thirty patients with AS of at least 18 years of age and 30 age-matched and sex-matched controls were included. Assessment of medical history, clinical examinations, and assessment of AS disease activity using BASDAI, BASMI, and BASFI as well as dobutamine echocardiography were performed only for patients. Complete blood count, ESR, C-reactive protein, lipid profile. serum von Willebrand factor (vWF) Ag level by ELISA, ECG, and carotid duplex were performed for all participants.

Results

In patients, 11 had active disease and 19 were in remission. A hypertensive response (HTNR) appeared in eight patients; six of them had active disease. There was a significant increase in the level of vWF in actively diseased patients than inactive patients and controls. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was significantly increased in AS patients than controls. Levels of low-density lipoprotein were significantly higher in AS patients than the controls and in AS patients receiving biologics than those not receiving biologics. In the inactive group, vWF and IMT were significantly increased in patients receiving biologies. vWF correlated positively with BASDI, BASMI, BASFI scores, ESR, and carotid IMT and negatively with high-density lipoprotein.

Conclusion

Patients with AS are more susceptible to atherosclerosis, which is related to disease activity, and receiving biologics may place them at a higher risk. vWF, as a useful marker of atherosclerosis in AS patients, was correlated positively with disease activity scores and IMT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Division, Ain Shams University, 5th Settlement, 3rd District, Area 6, Villa 66, 11835, Cairo, Egypt

    Dahlia A. Hussein, Hanan M. Farouk, Sameh A. Mobasher MD, Noran O. El-Azizi & Rasha N. Thabet

  2. Radiology Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Remon Z. Elia

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  1. Dahlia A. Hussein
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  2. Hanan M. Farouk
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  3. Sameh A. Mobasher MD
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  4. Noran O. El-Azizi
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  5. Rasha N. Thabet
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Correspondence to Sameh A. Mobasher MD.

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Hussein, D.A., Farouk, H.M., Mobasher, S.A. et al. Atherosclerosis in Egyptian patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Egypt Rheumatol Rehabil 41, 1–7 (2014). https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-161X.128127

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