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SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The Oswestry Disability Index is considered the gold standard in the evaluation of disability in patients with chronic mechanical back pain. The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of Oswestry Disability Index in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and its relationship with disease assessment parameters for ankylosing spondylitis. METHODS: A total of 100 patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis were included in the study group. The control group consisted of 50 individuals with nonspecific low back pain. The Oswestry Disability Index and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index were applied to both groups. In addition, the Visual Analog Scale, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score C-Reactive Protein, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, and the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life scales were applied in the study group. the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, C-Reactive Protein levels, and HLA-B27 analysis were noted as laboratory markers in ankylosing spondylitis patients. RESULTS: The scores of Oswestry Disability Index had a significant correlation with scores of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index in ankylosing spondylitis patients (r=0.543) and in the control group (r=0.401). There was a significant correlation between the scores of Oswestry Disability Index and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (r=0.544), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (r=0.317), the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (r=0.723), the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (r=0.501), the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score C-Reactive Protein (r=0.530), Visual Analog Scale-Rest (r=0.476), and Visual Analog Scale-Activity (r=0.441) values in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of Oswestry Disability Index in conjunction with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index may warn the physician to interpret high Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index scores in the context of mechanical pain. Therefore, the use of Oswestry Disability Index in patients with ankylosing spondylitis will be beneficial.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with rheumatic diseases and abnormal liver function, as well as determine the proportion and severity of liver function abnormalities.Methods:Cross-sectional study. Data were collected from patients registered in the Chinese Rheumatism Date Center from 2011 to 2021. The rheumatic diseases analyzed in this study were rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren syndrome (SS), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and gout. Patient data, including demographic characteristics [ such as age, sex, body mass index,(BMI), and smoking history], liver function test results [including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase(ALP), and total bilirubin], and use of anti-rheumatic immune drugs and liver-protective drugs, were collected and compared between groups with normal and abnormal liver functions. In addition, the proportions of abnormal liver function were compared between sex and age groups.Results:A total of 116 308 patients were included in this study, including 49 659 with RA, 17 597 with SLE, 9 039 with SS, 11 321 with AS, and 28 692 with gout. The lowest proportion of liver function abnormalities was observed in patients with RA[11.02% (5 470/49 659)], followed by those with SS[17.97% (1 624/9 039)] and AS [18.22% (2 063/11 321) ], whereas patients with SLE [21.14% (3 720/17 597) ] and gout [28.73% (8 242/28 692)] exhibited the highest proportion of these abnormalities. Elevated ALT, mostly classified as grade 1, was the most commonly noted liver function abnormality, whereas elevated ALP was the least common. Some patients who took liver-protective drugs had normal liver function, with the lowest percentage observed in patients with gout [7.45% (36/483) ] and ranging from 21.7% to 30.34% in patients with RA, SLE, SS, and AS. The proportion of liver function abnormalities was higher in males than in females for all disease types [RA: 13.8%(1 368/9 906) vs. 10.3%(4 102/39 753); SLE: 33.6% (479/1 424) vs. 20.0% (3 241/16 173); SS: 25.4%(111/437) vs. 17.6%(1 513/8 602); AS: 20.1%(1 629/8 119) vs. 13.6% (434/3 202); and gout: 29.3% (8 033/27 394) vs. 16.1% (209/1 298)]. In RA, SLE, and AS, the proportions of liver function abnormalities were similar across all age groups. In SS, the proportion of liver function abnormalities increased with age [<40 years: 14.9%(294/1 979); 40-59 years: 18.1%(858/4 741); ≥60 years: 20.4%(472/2 319)], whereas a reversal of this trend was observed in gout [<40 years: 34.9%(4 294/12 320); 40-59 years: 25.5%(2 905/11 398);≥60 years: 21.0%(1 042/4 971)].Conclusions:The proportions of combined liver function abnormalities in patients with rheumatologic diseases were high, and the utilization rates of liver-protective drugs were low. It is necessary to pay more attention to monitoring patients′ liver function, timely administer liver-protective drugs, and optimize liver-protective regimens during the treatment of rheumatic diseases.
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Objective:The related literatures of ankylosing spondylitis in recent 10 years were visually analyzed by bibliometrics to explore the research hotspots and trends in this field.Methods:The Web of Science core collection database was used as the data source to retrieve relevant literatures on ankylosing spondylitis included from 2012 to 2021, and CiteSpace 5.8.R3 software was used to conduct keywords analysis of co-occurrence, burst, clustering and timeline, co-citation and burst analysis of references, and draw visual knowledge maps.Results:A total of 8 684 papers were included, and the overall number of publications showed a steady trend of increase, nearly doubled in the past 10 years. Thirteen papers with high academic influence were analyzed. Keywords such as pathogenesis, impact factors, epidemiology, treatment progression, and quality of life were hot research topics in recent years.Conclusion:In this study, through visual analysis of the literature in the field of ankylosing spondylitis research, it is found that secukinumab and ustekinomab are the future research hotspots and trends in this field.
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Objective:To investigate the expression and clinical significance of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) and its signal pathway-related molecules in PBMCs of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods:Peripheral blood samples, clinical data and laboratory test results were collected from 100 patients with ankylosing spondylitis [50 patients with AS activity (ASA), 50 patients with AS stability (ASS)], 30 patients with osteoarthritis and 30 patients with gouty arthritis (as disease control group), and 60 healthy controls (HC). The mRNA expression levels of DcR3 and its signal pathway related genes (DR3, TL1A, Fas, FasL, LIGHT, LIGHTR, LTβR) were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Measurement data among the three groups in normal distribution were analyzed by t test or one-way analysis of variance, pairwise comparisons using LSD- t test, non-normal distribution data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test or Kruskal-Wallis H test, χ2 test was used for correlation analysis of categorical variables. Correlation analysis between variables were analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis. Results:① By comparing the AS group, disease control group and HC group, the expression levels of DcR3 mRNA and DR3 mRNA in the AS group were lower than those in disease control group and HC group, and DcR3 mRNA and DR3 mRNA in disease control group were lower than those in the HC group {DcR3mRNA: [6.21 (3.89, 10.70)]×10 -4vs [9.51 (5.89, 16.65)]×10 -4vs [17.81 (11.27, 24.20)]×10 -4, H=55.28, P<0.001; DR3 mRNA: [41.05 (24.09, 66.95)]×10 -4vs [58.28 (28.41, 94.38)]×10 -4vs [94.79 (54.07, 144.51)]×10 -4, H=37.10, P<0.001}. The expression level of TL1A mRNA in the AS group was higher than that in disease control group {[14.71(4.91, 42.22)]×10 -4vs [4.00(1.07, 16.60)]×10 -4vs [7.70 (3.52, 27.83)]×10 -4, H=17.71, P<0.001}; The expression level of Fas mRNA in AS group and disease control group was lower than that in HC group {[20.99(4.63, 62.89)]×10 -4vs [23.97(15.82, 38.99)]×10 -4vs [78.45 (27.32, 146.46)]×10 -4, H=31.17, P<0.001}. The expression level of FasL mRNA in AS group was higher than that in disease control group and HC group {[42.87(6.57, 91.21)]×10 -4vs [5.45(2.83, 10.32)]×10 -4vs [6.88 (4.57, 23.79)]×10 -4, H=46.42, P<0.001}. The expression level of LIGHTR mRNA in AS group was lower than that in disease control group {[52.66 (7.20, 143.21)]×10 -4vs [98.80 (53.11, 166.24)]×10 -4vs [63.47(40.85, 138.07)]×10 -4, H=11.96, P<0.001}. There were no significant differences in LIGHT mRNA and LTβR mRNA among all groups ( H=0.86, P>0.05; H=3.18, P>0.05). ②The expression levels of DcR3 mRNA, DR3 mRNA and Fas mRNA in ASA group and ASS group were lower than those in HC group. DcR3 mRNA in ASA group was higher than that in ASS group, and DR3 mRNA in ASA group was lower than that in ASS group {DcR3 mRNA: [7.28 (4.92, 16.56)]×10 -4vs [4.59 (2.49, 7.03)]×10 -4vs [17.81 (11.27, 24.20)]×10 -4, H=62.63, P<0.001; DR3 mRNA: [30.93(16.18, 66.66)]×10 -4vs [47.17(29.91, 67.40)]×10 -4vs [94.79(54.07, 144.51)]×10 -4, H=41.48, P<0.001; Fas mRNA: [20.04(3.29, 62.30)]×10 -4vs [22.49(5.63, 64.79)]×10 -4vs [78.45(27.32, 146.46)]×10 -4, H=23.54, P<0.001}. The expression levels of TL1A mRNA and LTβR mRNA in the ASA group were higher than those in the ASS group and the HC group {TL1A mRNA: [32.36(10.09, 97.84)]×10 -4vs [9.98(1.29, 21.63)]×10 -4vs [7.70(3.52,27.83)]×10 -4, H=21.14, P<0.001; LTβR mRNA: [6.13(2.16,20.06)×10 -4vs [2.13(0.53,8.04)]×10 -4vs [2.72 (1.24,5.73)]×10 -4, H=12.86, P<0.001}. The expression level of FasL mRNA in the ASA group and the ASS group was higher than that in the HC group {[60.70 (8.16, 106.16)]×10 -4vs [30.14 (5.37, 78.40)]×10 -4vs [6.88 (4.57, 23.79)]×10 -4, H=18.99, P<0.001}. The expression level of LIGHTR mRNA in ASS group was lower than that in HC group {[49.79(10.75, 168.48)]×10 -4vs [15.92(3.27, 105.91)]×10 -4vs [63.47(40.85, 138.07)]×10 -4, H=11.80, P<0.001]. There was no significant difference in LIGHT mRNA among all groups ( H=4.15, P>0.05). ③Spearman correlation analysis showed that DcR3 level was positively correlated with BASDAI score and hsCRP in AS patients ( r=0.52, P<0.001; r=0.35, P<0.01), and DR3 level was negatively correlated with BASDAI score, ESR and hsCRP level ( r=-0.28, P<0.001; r=-0.25, P<0.001; r=-0.31, P<0.001). TL1A was positively correlated with BASDAI score, ESR and hsCRP level ( r=0.23, P=0.046; r=0.26, P=0.015; r=0.25, P=0.017). Conclusion:DcR3 and its signal pathway-related molecules are differentially expressed in PBMCs of patients with AS, suggesting that they may participate in the occurrence and development of AS.
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Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with spinal fractures with thoracic and lumbar fracture as the most common type shows characteristics of unstable fracture, high incidence of nerve injury, high mortality and high disability rate. The diagnosis may be missed because it is mostly caused by low-energy injury, when spinal rigidity and osteoporosis have a great impact on the accuracy of imaging examination. At the same time, the treatment choices are controversial, with no relevant specifications. Non-operative treatments can easily lead to bone nonunion, pseudoarthrosis and delayed nerve injury, while surgeries may be failed due to internal fixation failure. At present, there are no evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AS combined with thoracic and lumbar fracture. In this context, the Spinal Trauma Academic Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of adult ankylosing spondylitis combined with thoracolumbar fracture ( version 2023) by following the principles of evidence-based medicine and systematically review related literatures. Ten recommendations on the diagnosis, imaging evaluation, classification and treatment of AS combined with thoracic and lumbar fracture were put forward, aiming to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment of such disorder.
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La espondilitis anquilosante es una enfermedad sistémica caracterizada por inflamación del esqueleto axial, las grandes articulaciones periféricas y los dedos, así como dolor, rigidez de la espalda y manifestaciones a otros niveles del organismo como puede ser en el ojo. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 46 años de edad que acudió al Hospital Gustavo Aldereguía Lima, de Cienfuegos, por dolor lumbar y sintomatología urinaria refractaria a terapéutica habitual, por lo cual fue ingresada para estudio. Fue evaluada según su cuadro clínico y a través del empleo de exámenes complementarios, lo que permitió el diagnóstico de una espondilitis anquilosante. Se le impuso tratamiento con antinflamatorios no esteroideos y fue dada de alta médica con seguimiento por su área de salud. Por lo importante que resulta confirmar el diagnóstico temprano, antes de que ocurran deformidades irreversibles y así evitar secuelas e impotencia en los pacientes que la padecen, con lo cual se les garantiza una mayor calidad de vida, se decidió la presentación de este caso.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic disease characterized by inflammation of the axial skeleton, large peripheral joints, and fingers, as well as pain, stiffness of the back, and manifestations at other levels of the body, such as the eye. We present the case of a 46-year-old patient who attended the Gustavo Aldereguía Lima Hospital, in Cienfuegos, due to lumbar pain and urinary symptoms refractory to usual therapy, for which she was admitted for study. She was evaluated according to her clinical picture and through the use of complementary tests, which allowed the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. Treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was prescribed and she was discharged with follow-up by her health area. Due to the importance of confirming the early diagnosis, before irreversible deformities occur and thus avoiding sequelae and impotence in patients who suffer from it, to guarantee them a better quality of life, it was decided to present this case.
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Turner syndrome (TS) complicated with Madelung deformity and complex brachydactyly are rare clinically, and it is even rarer to combine with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This article reports a case of a 36 year-old female patient who was admitted to the hospital with "ankylosing spondylitis" due to repeated back, hip and knee pain for 11 years and aggravated for 1 month. After admission, the karyotype showed "46, X, i (Xq)" due to short stature, dysplasia of secondary sexual characteristics, limb deformity etc, thus confirming TS. Further examination revealed bilateral Madelung deformity and complex brachydactyly characterized by shortening of the fourth metacarpal, multiple missing and shortened middle phalanxes. By reviewing the relevant literature, we believe that autoimmune diseases such as AS should be excluded in TS patients. TS aggravates the inflammatory response of AS, but the combination of TS and AS is more likely to be an accidental event. Patients with Madelung deformity should be careful to exclude TS. Madelung deformity and shortening of the fourth metacarpal are mainly associated with haploinsufficiency of SHOX gene. Brachydactyly characterized by multiple loss and shortening of the middle phalanx may be a new clinical manifestation of TS, especially the karyotype of 46, X, i (Xq). It is possible that there are some genes on the short arm of X chromosome, which regulate the number, growth and development of fingers. Early estrogen replacement therapy can greatly benefit patients.
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Objective:To investigate the effect of baseline function movement assessment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) on treatment outcomes.Methods:The clinical data of 90 patients with AS who met the medical insurance treatment for major disease in Chengdu were collected including clinical symptoms, functional movement screen (FMS) and ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS) after 24 weeks adalimumab treatment. They were divided into the non-treat-to-target group and the non-treat-to target group based on the ASDAS score, t-test or χ2 test was used to compare the differences between the two groups. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influence of baseline FMS on the outcome of patients reaching the treatment target. Results:① The two groups were different in the FMS [(15.8±2.3) vs (12. 6±2.5), t=6.17, P<0.001], squat [(2.2±0.6) vs (1.7±0.5), t=3.57, P=0.001], hurdle spanning [(2.2±0.7) vs (1.8±0.6), t=2.11, P=0.038], straight lunge [(2.3±0.7) vs (1.7±0.5), t=4.23, P<0.001], shoulder flexibility [(2.5±0.6) vs (2.2±0.8), t=2.21, P=0.037], active straight leg raise [(2.1±0.6) vs (1.8±0.6), t=2.35, P=0.021], spinal stabilization pushups [(2.4±0.7) vs (1.8±0.8), t=3.76, P<0.001], body rotation stability [(2.2±0.7) vs (1.6±0.8), t=3.42, P=0.001] at baseline. ② The two groups were different in ASDAS score [(0.96±0.28) vs (2.19±0.52), t=14.69, P=0.000], FMS [(17.4±1.9) vs (12.7±2.8), t=9.77, P<0.001], deep squat [(2.6±0.5) vs (1.5±0.5), t=9.09, P<0.001], hurdle step [(2.2±0.6) vs (1.8±0.8), t=2.80, P=0.006], straight lunge [(2.6±0.6) vs (1.8±0.9), t=4.85, P<0.001], shoulder flexibility [(2.8±0.4) vs (2.5±0.5), t=2.10, P=0.038], active straight leg raise [(2.2±0.6) vs (1.9±0.8), t=2.46, P=0.016], spinal stability push-ups [(2.8±0.4) vs (1.6±0.7), t=10.36, P<0.001], and body rotation stability [(2.3±0.7) vs (1.6±0.8), t=4.76, P<0.001] at the end of the observation. ③ The cut-off value of the FMS for predicting whether AS patients meet the standard at baseline was 14.25 points (Sensitivity 0.733, specificity 0.800). ④ Logistic regression results showed that in the baseline, FMS series of action tests, squat [ OR (95% CI)=0.155 (0.035, 0.677), P=0.013], straight lunge [ OR (95% CI)=0.375 (0.148, 0.953), P=0.039], spinal stability push-ups [ OR(95% CI)=0.136(0.043, 0.436), P=0.001], and body rotation stability [ OR(95% CI)=0.308 (0.121, 0.780), P=0.013] were the influencing factors of the AS patient's treatment outcome ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The AS patients in the non-treat-to-target group have better FMS tests at baseline and at the end of the study than the non-treat-to-target group. Squats, straight lunges, remember stable push-ups, and body rotation stability are the influencing factors for the treatment outcomes of AS patients at baseline.
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Objective:To predict the inflammatory activity of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) after 12 weeks treatment with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α receptor Ⅱ immunoglobulinG Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR:Fc) by Doppler ultrasonography at baseline.Methods:A total of 60 patients with AS were selected, and their general clinical characteristics before and after treatment were compared. Meanwhile, Doppler ultrasonography of the sacroiliac joint was performed to compare the Doppler parameters before and after treatment, and the correlation between baseline Doppler ultrasonography and clinical characteristics was analyzed, along with its diagnostic performance. The pre-treatment and post-treatment parameters were compared to the measured data followed by paired t-test for normal distribution, and the counting data were paired with Chi- square test. Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the correlation between pretreatment ultrasound parameters and pre-treatment disease activity. All statistical tests were bilateral, with a statistically significant difference of P<0.05. Results:After treatment, the overall score [(1.4±1.0) points vs (6.0±1.8) points, t=17.80, P<0.001], night pain score [(1.6±1.2) points vs (5.7±1.5) points, t=15.80, P<0.001], back pain score [(1.9±1.3) points vs (5.5±1.2) points, t=16.39, P<0.001], morning stiffness [(12±6) min vs (38±21) min points, t=8.93, P<0.001], Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) [(1.1±0.6) vs (4.6±1.3), t=12.41, P<0.001], ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score-C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) [(1.0±0.4) points vs (3.7±0.9) points, t=22.01, P<0.001] and ASDAS-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) [(1.0±0.7) points vs (4.0±0.8) points, t=20.10, P<0.001] of patients with ankylosing spondylitis were lower than those before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.001). Compared with AS patients before treatment, the color blood flow grading score was significantly lower after treatment [(1.7±0.8) points vs (3.9±1.1) points, t= 12.86, P<0.001). The post-treatment proportion of AS patients with bilateral sacroiliac joint blood flow signal was 67% (40/60), which was lower than 87% (52/60) before treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P=0.251). After treatment, the peak systolic velocity (PSV), pulsatile index (PI) and resistance index (RI) were significantly higher than those before treatment [(30±17) cm/s vs (19±8) cm/s, t=-5.42, P<0.001; (1.55±0.69) vs (1.00±0.45), t=0.45, P<0.001; (0.81±0.11) vs (0.55±0.14), t=11.20, P<0.001)]. The end diastolic velocity (EDV) before and after treatment had no statistical significant differences [(6.7±2.5) cm/s vs (6.3±1.9) cm/s, t=0.80, P=0.428]. Baseline Doppler ultrasound parameters and pre-treatment clinical indicators showed that PI and RI were negatively correlated with BASDAI ( r=-0.49, P=0.005; r=-0.51, P<0.001) , and blood flow grades were positively correlated with BASDAI ( r=0.46, P=0.028). However, there were no significant correlation between PSV, EDV and BASDAI ( r=-0.12, P=0.176; r=0.03, P=0.756). Baseline Doppler ultrasound parameters were correlated with ASDAS-CRP ( r=-0.45, P=0.012; r=0.29, P<0.048; r=-0.52, P<0.035; r=-0.76, P<0.001; r=0.61, P<0.001). There was no correlation between EDV and ASDAS-ESR ( r=0.30, P=0.110), the other ultrasound Doppler parameters were correlated with ASDAS-ESR ( r=-0.36, P<0.001; r=-0.54, P<0.001; r=-0.61, P=0.021; r=0.41, P=0.028). The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn with the baseline RI value as a variable. According to the ASDAS-CRP value, the diagnostic threshold for determining the presence or absence of AS activity after 12 weeks of treatment was 0.49, with an area under the curve of 0.817, sensitivity of 88.1%, specificity of 61.1%, positive predictive value of 66.7%, and negative predictive value of 86.1%. Conclusion:Baseline Doppler ultrasound correlates well with clinical indicators, among which baseline RI values is a good predictor of inflammatory activity status after rhTNFR:Fc treatment.
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Objective:To evaluate the effect of clinical pathway implementation on medical efficiency and medical expenses of patients with two common rheumatic immune diseases " rheumatoid arthritis" and " ankylosing spondylitis" diseases by using diagnosis related group (DRG) related indicators.Methods:The data of patients with two common rheumatic immune diseases " rheumatoid arthritis" and " ankylosing spondylitis" included in the clinical pathway management from January 2017 to December 2019 in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were carried out. The impact of clinical pathway implementation on the average hospital stay, average cost and average drug cost of patients with the two diseases were analyzed and compared , so as to evaluate the effect of the implementation of the clinical pathway.Results:From the implementation of clinical pathway in 2017 to 2019, the number of patients admitted and total medical specialty services in the two groups of " rheumatoid arthritis" and " ankylosing spondylitis" increased year by year ( P<0.01). The average length of stay, average cost and average drug cost of patients in the " rheumatoid arthritis" disease group decreased year by year, with statistically significant differences between groups (all P<0.01). The average length of stay in the ankylosing spondylitis group was shortened year by year, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). Compared with 2017, the average cost in 2018 decreased significantly, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in average cost between 2018 and 2019 ( P>0.05). The average cost in 2018 was significantly higher than that in 2017 ( P<0.05). After analyzing the causes and optimizing the clinical pathway, the average cost in 2019 was significantly lower than that in 2018 ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Through the implementation of clinical pathways and continuous optimization of pathway connotation during use, the diagnosis and treatment efficiency of patients with " rheumatoid arthritis" and " ankylosing spondylitis" can be significantly improved, and medical costs can be reduced, which is in line with the current medical reform needs.
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To investigate the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and work impairment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) based on real-world evidence. Outpatients with confirmed AS at Chinese PLA General Hospital were recruited consecutively by Smart-phone SpondyloArthritis Management System (SpAMS) from April 2016 to April 2018. The relationship between CRP and work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire (WPAI) were evaluated. Five hundred and fifty-one outpatients with AS in paid employment were recruited. The presenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment rates increased by 1.4% (1.1%, 1.8%), 1.1% (0.5%, 1.6%), and 1.7% (1.3%, 2.1%), respectively, for every 10 mg/L increase in the CRP level (all P value<0.01). However, the CRP level was not associated with absenteeism after adjusting for covariates [0.5%(-0.4%, 1.0%), P>0.05]. There is a significant association between increased serum CRP levels at baseline and the previous 7-day work impairment in patients with AS. Higher CRP levels contribute to worse presenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment rates, which suggests the necessity of monitoring CRP on treatment, and also indicates that anti-inflammatory therapy may be effective for improving work productivity.
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Objective:To analyze the risk factors of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with premature coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (PCAD).Methods:A total of 74 patients with AS and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD) in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1983 to July 2021 were enrolled. According to the age of onset of coronary heart disease, the 74 patients were divided into PCAD group and NPCAD (non-premature coronary heart disease) group. T test and Chi square test were used to analyze the data of the two groups, the risk factors for AS-PCAD were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression. Results:① There were 37 cases in the PCAD group and 37 cases in the NPCAD group. In the PCAD group, there were 28 men and 9 women; wherease all were men in the NPCAD group. The difference was statistically significant ( χ2=10.25, P=0.001). ② Compared with the NPCAD group, the age of AS-PCAD group was younger [(23±10) years vs (29±12) years, t=-2.28, P=0.026], and the course from AS to CAD was shorter [(25±10) years vs (34±13) years, t=-3.00, P=0.004], hemoglobin (Hb) level was lower [(122±23) g/L vs(132±18) g/L, t=2.10, P=0.039], rate of anemia was higher [38.5%(14/37) vs 16.2%(6/37), χ2=4.39, P=0.037]. Proportion of increased C-reactive protein (CRP) was higher [65.5%(19/29) vs 35.5%(11/31), χ2=5.41, P=0.019]. ③ Juvenile onset AS (JoAS)[ OR(95% CI)=3.45(1.31, 9.10), P=0.012] and high levels of CRP [ OR (95% CI)=3.68 (1.44, 9.40), P=0.006] might berisk factors of AS-PCAD by multiple logisctic regression analysis. Conclusion:Patients with AS have a higher probability of PCAD, especially in those patients with JoAS, persistent inflammation and anemia. It is necessary to be alert to the risk of PCAD and early screening.
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Objective:To detect the expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2)/Janus kinase 3/signal transduction and transcriptional activator 5 (JAK3/STAT5) signaling pathway in peripheral blood of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and explore its mechanism in the development and progression of AS.Methods:Clinical data, peripheral blood and laboratory tests of 30 patients with active AS (ASA), 30 patients with stable AS (ASS) and 50 healthy subjects (HC) were collected. The mRNA expression levels of JAK3, signal transduction and transcription activator 5a (STAT5a) and signal transduction and transcription activator 5b (STAT5b) were detected by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression levels of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b proteins and phosphorylated proteins were detected by Western-blot. Plasma IL-2 concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two independent samples t-test or one-way analysis of variance were used for measurement data consistent with normal distribution, LSD- t test was used for pairwise comparison between the three groups, Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for non-normal distribution, χ2 test was used for correlation analysis of categorical variables. Spearman correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis between variables, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b mRNA expression levels in monitoring AS activity. Results:① The mRNA expression levels of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b were significantly different among the three groups ( F=65.98, P<0.001; F=21.15, P<0.001; F=13.67, P<0.001). JAK3 mRNA expression in ASA group (2.5±0.9) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (1.1±0.4) and healthy subjects (1.0±0.5), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The mRNA expression level of STAT5a in ASA group (1.4±0.3) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.9±0.3) and healthy subjects group (1.0±0.3), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). STAT5b mRNA expression level in ASA group (1.5±0.6) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (1.0±0.4) and healthy subjects (1.0±0.4), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The expression level of JAK3 mRNA in HLA-B27 positive group (1.9±1.0) was higher than that in HLA-B27 negative group (1.4±0.6), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.22, P=0.032). The phosphorylation levels of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b showed statistically significant differences among the three groups ( F=91.56, P<0.001; F=25.15, P< 0.001; F=178.59, P<0.001). The phosphorylation level of JAK3 protein in ASA group (1.04±0.08) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.568±0.019) and healthy subjects (0.536±0.064), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The phosphorylation level of STAT5a protein in ASA group (1.166±0.096) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.923±0.018) and healthy subjects (0.911±0.017), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The phosphorylation level of STAT5b protein in ASA group (0.81±0.05) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.21±0.03) and healthy subjects (0.24± 0.07), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The difference of plasma IL-2 concentration among the three groups was statistically significant ( F=3.32, P=0.040). The IL-2 concentration in the ASA group [(110±40) pg/ml] was significantly higher than that in the ASS group [(89±40) pg/ml] and the healthy group [(88±39) pg/ml], the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.044, P=0.016). ② Spearman correlation analysis showed that STAT5a mRNA expression level was positively correlated with platelets in AS patients ( r=0.353, P=0.006). JAK3 mRNA expression level in ASA group was positively correlated with IL-2 concentration ( r=0.766, P<0.001), and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate ( r=-0.485, P=0.007). STAT5a mRNA expression level was positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r= 0.680, P<0.001), and STAT5b mRNA expression level was positively correlated with hypersensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) ( r=0.823, P<0.001). ③ The ROC curve showed that JAK3 mRNA expression level predicted the area under ROC curve (AUC) of ASA with a 95% CI of 0.920 (0.853, 0.987), sensitivity and specificity of 86.7% and 90.0%, respectively. STAT5a mRNA expression level predicted the AUC 95% CI of ASA was 0.874 (0.787, 0.961), and the sensitivity and specificity were 96.7% and 66.7%, respectively. STAT5b mRNA expression level predicted the AUC 95% CI of ASA was 0.749 (0.617, 0.881), and the sensitivity and specificity were 73.3% and 80.0%, respectively. Conclusion:This study suggests that IL-2/JAK3/STAT5 may be involved in the pathogenesis of AS, and JAK3 mRNA can be used as a biological indicator to monitor the activity of AS disease.
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Objective:To investigate the effect of functional movement assessment on the recurrence of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) after treat-to-target therapy.Methods:The clinical data of 61 patients with AS in Chengdu were collected including clinical symptoms and AS disease activity (ASDAS). After 24 weeks adalimumab treatment, motor function score of AS patients(ASDAS<1.3) was assessed by functional movement screen (FMS), then adalimumab was discontinued and the rest of the concurrent drugs were continued until the disease relapse or up to 1 year. The data of the two groups were compared using t-test analysis and Cox proportionate hazard model. Results:① The recurrence rate of patients with AS after treat-to-target therapy within 1 year follow-up was 57.4%; ② The recurrence group was younger [(27±7) vs (31±6), t=5.96, P=0.02], the ASADAS value was at the high end when adalimumab was withdrawal [(1.29±0.07) vs (0.87±0.16), t=177.31, P<0.01], and the FMS value was lower after treat-to-target [(12.9±2.7) vs (16.2±1.9), t=29.23, P<0.01], The time to reaching the treatment target was longer [(2.9±1.2) month vs (1.7±0.6) month, t=19.89, P<0.01] than the stable group; ③ The cut-off value of the FMS test of AS patients after treat-to-target therapy was 14.25 (sensitivity was 84.6%, specificity was 80%) . The time to treat-to-target was a risk factor for recurrence ( RR=2.285, P<0.05), and the FMS value after treat-to-target was a protective factor ( RR=0.625, P<0.05). Conclusion:After discontinuing the adalimumab, about half of the patients relapse. The time reaching the treatment target and the FMS value after treat-to-target therapy are the risk factors for disease recurrence.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis involving hip joint.Methods:One hundred and twenty-eight patients with ankylosing spondylitis involved in the hip joint were selected who were treated in the People′s Hospital of Longhua District from January 2017 to February 2020. The patients were divided into computed tomography(CT) group (64 cases) and MRI group (64 cases) according to the examination method of CT and MRI were performed respectively, and the incidence of abnormal hip joints were analyzed, and the prognostic treatment effects of the two groups were compared after following up.Results:Twenty-seven cases of fat deposition, 43 cases of subchondral bone marrow edema and 31 cases of inflammatory changes of tendon and ligament attachment were detected in MRI group, while CT didn′t showed these changes. Thirty-four cases of hip joint lesions were detected in CT group, the detection rate was 53.1%(34/64), and 56 cases of hip joint lesions were detected in MRI group, the detection rate was 87.50(56/64), the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). After treated for 3 months, the cure rate of the MRI group was higher than that of the CT group: 65.6%(42/64) vs. 34.4% (22/64), the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=18.11, P<0.05). Conclusions:MRI is an important imaging method for the early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis involving the hip joint, and its diagnostic sensitivity is better than that of CT.
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Objective:To investigate the expression of Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in the peripheral blood of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and to analyze its clinical significance.Methods:Sixty-four AS patients from September 2020 to September 2022 in Fujian Provincial Hospital and 60 healthy controls were enrolled. The expression of MAIT cells and CD69 +MAIT cells were detected by immunofluorescence. Spondylarthritis research consortium of Canada (SPARCC) scores of sacroiliac joint magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were calculated and were analyzed based on clinical data. The changes of MAIT cells were observed in 7 patients with AS after treatment. t test, variance analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:The expression of MAIT cells in the peripheral of AS patients was significantly lower than that in the controls [(2.81±0.27)% and (4.46±0.86)% respectively, t=2.33, P=0.022], while CD69 +MAIT cells were significantly higher [(12.0±1.0)% and (7.8±1.2)% respectively, t=2.31, P=0.024]. The level of CD69 +MAIT cells were significantly positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) ( r=0.39, P=0.010), C-reactive protein (CRP) ( r=0.36, P=0.012), ASDAS ( r=0.35, P=0.013) and SPARCC scores ( r=0.38, P=0.006) of AS patients. ASDAS scores and CD69 +MAIT cells obviously decreased in 7 treated AS patients ( F=7.62, P=0.007 and F=4.97, P=0.027 respectively). Conclusion:The expression of peripheral MAIT cells in AS patients is lower than that in healthy controls, but the number of the activated MAIT cells is increased. Levels of activated MAIT cells may in some extent reflect the inflammatory state and disease activity of AS, as well as inflammatory destruction of sacroiliac joint, and therapeutic effect. MAIT cells may partially participate in the inflammatory response and play a role in the pathogenesis of AS.
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Objective: To observe the efficacy of warm needling moxibustion plus intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate for hip involvement in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: A total of 60 patients with hip involvement in AS were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 30 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were given an intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate, once a week. The patients in the observation group were given additional warm needling moxibustion, once a day, with a 2-day interval after five consecutive days of treatment. After 5 weeks, changes in such indicators as visual analog scale (VAS) score, Harris score, Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), interleukin (IL)-17 were observed, and the efficacy was evaluated. Six months after treatment, Bath ankylosing spondylitis radiology index-hip (BASRI-hip) was evaluated. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the VAS scores in both groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the Harris scores of both groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Six months after treatment, the BASRI-hip score of the control group was higher than that before treatment (P<0.05), while the score of the observation group was not significantly different from that before treatment (P>0.05) and was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of BASDAI and BASFI of both groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum COMP and IL-17 of both groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the levels of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The efficacy of warm needling moxibustion plus intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate for hip involvement in AS is better than the intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate alone. This combined approach can alleviate hip pain, improve hip functions, delay the destruction of the hip, prevent AS development, and reduce the levels of serum COMP and IL-17.
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Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease mainly affecting the sacroiliac joints, spine and peripheral joints. In China, standardized diagnosis and treatment of AS is still to be popularized. Based on the evidence and guidelines from China and other countries, Chinese Rheumatology Association developed standardization of diagnosis and treatment of AS. The purposes are: (1) to standardize the diagnosis and evaluation of AS; (2) to promote rational use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, biological as well as traditional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, so as to improve the patient′s quality of life.
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ABSTRACT Background: The terms Spondyloarthritis and spondyloarthropathy (Spa) are used to define a group of diseases with related clinical characteristics and genetics. Aim: To report the clinical and demographic characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (USpA) and to evaluate the frequency of cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) positivity. Material and Methods: Two hundred patients with USpA or AS, 100 control patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 100 healthy volunteers were included. For each patient, their detailed medical histories, physical examination, whole blood counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-CCP, routine biochemical tests, and HLA-B27 test results were evaluated. ASDAS and BASDAI scores and morning stiffness were used to evaluate the disease activity. Results: The presenting symptom of 73 (73%) patients in the AS group and 58 (58%) patients in the USpA group was pain in axial joints. A family history of Spa was positive in 32 patients from both groups (32%). A positive HLA-B27 was found in 55% of the AS group and 25% of the USpA group (p < 0.01 for the difference between groups). The frequency of positive HLA-B27 was significantly higher in individuals with a family history of SpA (p = 0.022). A positive Anti-CCP was found in 56% of the RA group, a significantly higher frequency compared with other groups (p < 0.001). The frequency of positive Anti-CCP in patients in AS (9%) and USpA (6%) was significantly higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The frequency of anti-CCP positivity was higher in SpA patients than in healthy controls.
Introducción: Los términos espondiloartritis y espondiloatropatia (Spa) se usan para definir un grupo de enfermedades con características y genética relacionadas. Objetivo: Informar las características clínicas y demográficas de la espondilitis anquilosante (EA) y espondiloartritis indiferenciada (USpA) - y para evaluar la frecuencia de positividad del anticuerpo péptido citrulinado cíclico (anti-CCP). Material y Métodos: En este estudio observacional se incluyeron doscientos pacientes con USpA y EA, 100 pacientes control con diagnóstico de artritis reumatoide (AR) y 100 voluntarios sanos. Se evaluó la historia clínica, exámen físico, recuentos sanguíneos completos, velocidad de sedimentación globular (ESR), proteína C reactiva (PCR), anti-CCP, pruebas bioquímicas de rutina y resultados de la prueba HLA-B27. Para evaluar la actividad de la enfermedad se utilizaron las puntuaciones ASDAS y BASDAI y la rigidez matutina. Resultados: El síntoma inicial de 73 (73%) pacientes en el grupo de EA y 58 (58%) pacientes en el grupo de USpA fue dolor en las articulaciones axiales. Treinta y dos pacientes de cada grupo (32%) tenían antecedentes familiares de SPA. HLA-B27 fue positivo en el 55% del grupo AS y el 25% del grupo USpA con una diferencia significativa entre los dos grupos (p < 0.001). La frecuencia de positividad HLA-B27 fue mayor en individuos con historia familiar de SpA (p = 0,02). Se encontraron anti-CCP positivos en el 56% del grupo con AR, una frecuencia significativamente mayor en comparación con otros grupos (p < 0,01). La frecuencia de anti-CCP positivo fue mayor los pacientes con AS (9%) y USpA (6%) que en el grupo sano (p < 0,001). Conclusiones: La frecuencia de positividad anti-CCP fue mayor en los grupos de SpA en comparación con los grupos control sanos.
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Objective:To study the expression and significance of microparticles (MPs), platelets microparticles (PMPs), CD41a +CD62P +PMPs from peripheral blood of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Methods:Plasma were collected from 47 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and 15 healthy volunteers. The levels of MPs, PMPs, and CD41a +CD62P +PMPs in plasma of AS patients and healthy controls (HC) were detected by flow cytometry. The clinical parameters including C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) were obtained. T test and Spearman linear correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:The levels of MPs, PMPs, CD41a + CD62P + PMPs in plasma from AS patients were higher than those in plasma from HC [(3 466±641)/μl vs (619±152)/μl, t=2.342, P=0.022; (3 059±628)/μl vs (320±143)/μl, t=2.298, P=0.025; (566±121)/μl vs (47±22)个/μl, t=2.295, P=0.025]. The levels of MPs in plasma of AS patients were positively correlated with BASDAI ( r=0.555, P=0.000 4); and the levels of PMPs in AS patients were positively correlated with BASDAI ( r=0.542, P=0.000 6) but the CD41a +CD62P +PMPs in AS patients were not correlated with BASDAI ( r=0.298, P=0.073 2). The levels of MPs in plasma from AS patients were not correlated with ESR, CRP ( r=-0.016, P=0.917; r=0.035, P=0.817); PMPs in plasma from AS patients were not correlated with ESR, CRP ( r=-0.001, P=0.996; r=0.065, P=0.671). CD41a +CD62P +PMPs in plasma of AS patients were not correlated with ESR, CRP ( r=-0.129, P=0.400; r=-0.410, P=0.789). Conclusion:There is increased expression of MPs, PMPs and CD41a +CD62P +PMPs in AS patients, which is related with disease activity. MPs, PMPs may be involved in the inflammatory response of AS.