Résumé
Fifty patients with definite diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis [AS] [49 males and one female] are included in this prospective study. The patients were classified according to age at onset into juvenile and adult groups. Eight patients [16%] who developed the disease between 10-19 years were considered as juvenile and 42 [84%] patients between 20-49 years as adults. Spinal involvement was seen in 38 [76%] patients, whilst peripheral arthropathy in 8 [16%] patients and in 4 [8%] patients axial as well as peripheral arthropathy were noticed. Peripheral arthropathy occurred in 62.5% of juveniles and 7.14% of adults, whilst axial occurred in 37.5% of the former and 83.3% of the latter. A positive family history was recorded in 10 patients. All patients remain gainfully employed despite their severe disease. Chest expansion was limited in 80%. All patients were having enthesiopathy and were negative for Rheumatoid factor. Pulmonary involvement of restrictive pattern was reported, significantly more in patients compared to control group. The values of Forced Vital Capacity [FVC], Forced Expiratory Volume in first second [FEV1] and Maximum Voluntary Ventilatory Ventilation [MVV] were reduced whilst the ratio of FEV1/FVC remained unchanged. Apical fibrosis and pleural thickening were seen in 12 [24%] patients of adult group. Radiological sacroilitis was reported in all patients whilst dorsolumbar spines were invovled in 43 patients and the cervical spines were spared in the juvenile group. We were interested in identifying the pattern of joint involvement according to age of onset and systemic manifestation of AS