Correlation of Carotid Intima Media Thickness with Disease Activity in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Abstract
Introduction: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the axial joints.It has association with HLA-B27.Measurement of intima media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery has got a direct co-relation with atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular mortality.In AS patients there is high chance of developing atherosclerosis because of it's chronic inflammatory nature.Thus the study tried to see the co-relation of IMT of common carotid artery with disease activity of AS and other functional index.Current research aimed to study the carotid IMT (CIMT) in AS patients and see the co-relation of CIMT with disease activity.Material and methods: 53 patients satisfying Modified New York criteria 1984 were included in study.History, physical examination and necessary investigations were done.BASDAI and BASFI was calculated.Graphs were plotted showing the BASDAI and BASFI co-relation with the CIMT.Results: Male:Female ratio was 3.4:1.Mean BASDAI score was 4.14±0.92and mean BASFI was 4.27±2.02.Mean CIMT (average of right and left carotid) of all the patients was 0.63±0.19mm.There was significant co-relation found between CIMT and BASFI (r=+0.6411,p,0.001) though no such co-relation was found with BASDAI (r=-0.2462,p=0.075).There was a significant negative co-relation between CIMT and ESR (r=-0.3602,p=0.008) though no such significant co-relation was seen with C-RP.Conclusion: Our study concludes that the patients with longer duration of disease have increased CIMT and decreased functional index.This suggests that if disease is present for longer duration, there may be increased risk of atherosclerosis.