Gender differences in ankylosing spondylitis patients: Relation to clinical characteristics, functional status and disease activity
Journal Title: International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology - Year 2018, Vol 13, Issue 4
Abstract
Objective: To assess gender differences in Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) patients regarding the clinical presentation, disease activity and functional status. Methods and findings: Forty AS patients; 21 males and 19 females, regularly following at the Rheumatology outpatient’s clinic, Saudi German Hospital, Riyadh, KSA were included. Functional status and the disease activity were evaluated using Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) respectively. Mean age was 34.3 ± 8.5 years with a comparable sex ratio (M:F 1.11:1). Morning stiffness was markedly lower in females (72.4 ± 52.4 vs 112.9 ± 44.4 minutes) (p=0.01).Bilateral sacroiliitis was significantly more in males (n=18; 85.7% vs n=13; 68.4%) (p=0.02).The Schöber’s test was more limited and the finger-to-floor distance more increased in males (4.5 ± 0.8 cm and 40.7 ± 9.2 cm vs 4.9 ± 0.7 cm and 27.9 ± 9.7 cm; p=0.046 and p<0.001 respectively). Human leukocytic antigen-B27) was positive in 85.7% of males while rheumatoid factor was positive in only 3 females. BASFI showed significantly higher value in females (6.7 ± 1.1 vs 5.8 ± 1.4) (p=0.04), while BASDAI showed only a tendency to be higher in females. Using Magnetic resonance imaging of the sacroiliac joint, sacroiliitis was detected in all cases with signs of activity in 9 males and 7 females, erosions in 8 males and 5 females, effusion in 1 female and total ankylosis in 1 male. Conclusion: The clinical presentation and genetic background were more remarkable in the AS males; however the disease activity and functional impairment were increased in females. Radiological findings were comparable.Understanding the gender differences in AS may discern how this may impact future research, diagnosis and treatment.
Authors and Affiliations
Maysa M Haroon, Safaa Sayed, Tamer A. Gheita
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP604623
- DOI -
- Views 46
- Downloads 0
A young lady with seronegative systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. It is a multisystem disease which can involve any organ in the body. Most of the SLE cases are seropositive which depend on positive test f...
Clinical presentation and management of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis in a Middle Eastern country-a case series
Introduction: Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis (IGM) is a rare and benign inflammatory condition of the breast. IGM cases have been poorly documented in the Middle East, highlighting the need for improved awareness. Aim...
Improved clinical outcomes and physical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with originator adalimumab in routine clinical practice
Background/Objective: We aimed at evaluating changes in habitual physical activity, disease activity and physical function following treatment with originator adalimumab (ADAORIG) in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (R...
Chikungunya arthritis: an emerging rheumatologic problem
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus that belongs to the Togaviridae family, transmitted primarily by the bite of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Although occurrence of CHIK outbreaks has been sporadically reported in...
Hearing loss in systemic sclerosis - clinically important, potentially treatable and often overlooked
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is one of the most complex systemic autoimmune diseases [1] characterized by cutaneous and visceral fibrosis, immune dysregulation and vasculopathy. Although rheumatologists can address hearing l...