Cardiovascular involvement in the course of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a very important problem. The aim was to assess the influence of the activity of the disease on echocardiographic abnormalities in ankylosing spondylitis.
Material and methods: We studied 38 AS patients. Activity of the disease was assessed according to the ESR and following indexes: BASMI, BASFI, BASDAI, BASG-t, BASG-6. Using 2-dimensional echo Doppler (Acuson 128XP) the heart dimensions were determined according to the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines.
Results: Patients with mitral valve prolapse compared with the group of the AS patients without this abnormality had significant higher (p = 0.05) activity of the disease assessed by ESR. Patients with aortic incompetence compared with the group of the AS patients without this abnormality, had significant (p = 0.04) lower disease activity assessed by BASG-6. We found significant negative correlation between EF and disease duration, and significant lower disease activity assessed by BA SG-6. Patients with pericardial effusion compared with group without this had significant shorter (p = 0.05) disease duration.
Conclusion: There was no significant influence of the following indexes: BASMI, BASFI, BASDAI, BASG-t, BASG-6 of the activity of the disease on echocardiographic abnormalities in ankylosing spondylitis.