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Background The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of acute phase reactants (APRs) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up. We also evaluated the associations between APR levels and disease activity. Methods The study included 948 patients with AS who were followed-up at Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine Rheumatology outpatient clinic. The patients’ erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels across all visits were retrospectively reviewed through the Turkbio registry and the hospital’s database. Disease activity and follow-up parameters as BASDAI, ASDAS, BASFI and BASMI were taken from Turkbio visit charts. The correlation between APR and follow-up parameters were evaluated with Spearman correlation coefficient analysis. Results There were 948 AS patients (69% male, mean age 46,6±12,1 years) who fulfilled the 1984 modified New York criteria. At first visit, high levels of CRP and ESR were observed in 626 (68.5%) and 578 (64.6%) patients respectively. During follow-up 84.6% of patients had high CRP and 69.5% patients had high ESR at any visit (figure 1). However in 10% of AS patients APRs did not increase at any visits. There was good correlation between ESR and CRP (r=0.666, p Conclusions In over 80% patients with AS had elevated levels of CRP, the most frequently used laboratory parameter, during follow-up. CRP is well correlated with ESR, and disease activity parameters as BASDAI, ASDAS, BASFI and BASMI. Compared to BASDAI; ASDAS had better agreement between activity and APRs. Interestingly, in 10% of AS patients APRs did never increase in follow-up. Disclosure of Interest None declared |
