Carotid Intima Media Thickness as a Marker of Atherosclerosis in Ankylosing Spondylitis

• Published in: International Journal of Rheumatology Vol. 2014; no. 2014; pp. s1 - 5
• Main Authors: Gupta, Naveen, Saigal, Renu, Goyal, Laxmikant, Agrawal, Abhishek, Bhargava, Rajat, Agrawal, Arun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 01-01-2014; Hindawi Puplishing Corporation; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Age; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Cholesterol; Hospitals; Mortality; Rheumatic diseases; Rheumatology; Studies
• ISSN: 1687-9260; 1687-9279
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/839135

Aim. Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have been observed in ankylosing spondylitis because of accelerated atherosclerosis. We measured carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis in this study. Methods. In this study 37 cases of AS and the same number of matched individuals were recruited. CIMT measurements were done using B-mode ultrasound. Disease activity was assessed using Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), and Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrological index (BASMI) scores and C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels. Results. Mean age of the study groups was 29.43 ± 9.00 years. Average disease duration was 65.62 ± 54.92 months. Twenty-eight (75.68%) of cases were HLA B-27 positive. A significantly increased CIMT was observed in cases as compared to control group (0.62 ± 0.12 versus 0.54 ± 0.04; P<0.001). CIMT in the cases group positively correlated with age (r=0.357; P<0.05), duration of disease (r=0.549; P<0.01), and BASMI (r=0.337; P<0.05) and negatively correlated with ESR (r=−0.295; P<0.05). Conclusions. Patients of AS had a higher CIMT than those of the control group. CIMT correlated with disease chronicity.