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Introduction: This is the first study to analyze the associations between the radiological severity of hip involvement with clinical characteristics and sagittal spinopelvic balance in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Method: We evaluated 182 patients with AS who were referred to outpatient clinics. Patient demographic data and clinical and radiographic parameters were collected. Patients were divided into three groups based on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Hip Index. Clinical characteristics and spinopelvic parameters acquired by a low-dose biplanar imaging system were evaluated among these groups. Results: Patients with more severe hip involvement were older and had longer disease duration and diagnostic delay, with lower Harris Hip Score (p < 0.001) and 12-item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Score (p < 0.001) and higher Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (p = 0.030) and Functional Index (p < 0.001). Patients with more severe hip involvement had significantly higher sacroiliac grade (p < 0.001) and higher modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (p < 0.001). Patients with moderate and severe hip involvement had similar lumbar lordosis and spino-sacral angle, whereas patients with severe hip involvement had lower pelvic tilt, pelvic femoral angle, higher sacral slope, and sagittal vertical axis. Conclusions: The severity of hip involvement is associated with physical function and is not consistent with the severity of spinal involvement. Severe hip involvement impairs the ability to retrovert the pelvis to accommodate the sagittal deformity, and spinopelvic parameters should be concretely evaluated in preoperative counseling of patients with AS waiting for total hip arthroplasty. Key Points • The severity of hip involvement in patients with AS is associated with physical function. • Severe hip involvement impairs the ability to retrovert the pelvis to accommodate the sagittal deformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The transfusion rate is relatively high in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, relevant studies focusing on the predisposing factors for transfusion with a large sample size are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of and risk factors for allogeneic blood transfusion in patients with AS undergoing primary unilateral THA. Methods: This retrospective study included 331 patients with AS who underwent primary unilateral THA between 2011 and 2021. Relevant parameters were collected through a chart review. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify possible factors associated with perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion. Results: A total of 113 (34.1%) patients received perioperative allogeneic blood transfusions. Factors related to receiving an allogeneic blood transfusion included prolonged operative duration (odds ratio [OR] per 10 min = 1.139, P = 0.047), increased estimated intraoperative blood loss (OR per 100 mL = 1.348, P < 0.001), and increased postoperative drainage volume (OR per 100 mL = 1.235, P = 0.024). A higher body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.914, P = 0.012), perioperative tranexamic acid (TXA) use (OR = 0.166, P < 0.001), and a higher preoperative hemoglobin level (OR per 1 g/dL = 0.744, P = 0.004) decreased the risk of transfusion. Conclusions: In patients with AS undergoing THA, prolonged operative duration, increased estimated intraoperative blood loss, and increased postoperative drainage volume were found to be risk factors for transfusion, whereas a higher BMI, perioperative TXA use, and a higher preoperative hemoglobin level were protective factors. These results may aid in developing a better perioperative management strategy, ultimately reducing the need for transfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The relationship between tophaceous gout and metabolic markers is not well understood. The aim of this study was to compare the correlations between different metabolic markers and tophi and evaluate their potential predictive values for tophus. Method: We analysed the data of gout patients in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from 2013 to 2020. Ten laboratory indicators (UA, eGFR, underexcretion, GLU, TRIG, HDL-C, ALT, TBIL, γ-GT and UPH) were included to evaluate the relationship between tophaceous gout and metabolic markers. Results: Tophi was present in 14.7% (119/808) of gout patients. UA, eGFR, ALT and γ-GT were independently related to the development of tophi; UA and γ-GT were positively correlated. The γ-GT/ALT ratio and UA/eGFR ratio showed a positive correlation with tophi, with (rho, P) of (0.305, < 0.001) and (0.195, < 0.001), respectively. The γ-GT/ALT ratio showed the best classificatory performance (AUC = 0.749, P < 0.001) for tophi among the four positive correlation indicators. With increasing integer γ-GT/ALT ratio, the incidence of tophi (4.9%, 9.7%, 22.3% and 38.4%, P < 0.001), chronic kidney disease (2.5%, 5.2%, 12.3% and 19.2%, P < 0.001) and hyperuricemia over 10 years (6.6%, 10.7%, 18.5% and 26.4%, P < 0.001) showed a progressive increase. The γ-GT/ALT ratio was positively correlated with the number of tophi and duration of hyperuricemia, negatively correlated with eGFR. Conclusions: UA, eGFR, γ-GT and ALT were independently associated with tophi. The γ-GT/ALT ratio may be used as a predictor or monitor of tophi. Key Points • We found that UA, eGFR, γ-GT and ALT were independently related to tophi among clinical commonly indicators. • The γ-GT/ALT ratio performed best in the identification of tophaceous gout from gout. • The incidence of tophi and chronic kidney disease and duration of hyperuricemia increased with γ-GT/ALT ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the association between extra-articular manifestations (EAMs) and baseline characteristics of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and identify their potential risk factors in an observational cohort. Methods: We analyzed the data of consecutive patients with AS obtained between April 2016 and May 2019 from the ongoing Chinese Ankylosing Spondylitis Prospective Imaging Cohort. Results: Among the 1414 patients with AS, 23.1% had experienced EAMs at baseline. The prevalence rates of acute anterior uveitis (AAU), inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis among patients with AS were 16.7, 6.9, and 2.6%, respectively, and the prevalence of AAU increased significantly with the disease duration. Patients with comorbidity of AAU and psoriasis had Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) than patients without EAMs (2.16 ± 0.984 vs. 1.99 ± 0.956 [p = 0.025] and 2.36 ± 1.01 vs. 1.99 ± 0.96 [p = 0.025]). Among the 1087 patients with AS without EAMs at baseline, 98 developed EAMs during follow-up. Long disease duration (> 10 years) and high disease activity at baseline (ASDAS > 2.1) were associated with the risk of new-onset EAMs (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval, CI], 2.150 [1.229–3.762] and 2.896 [1.509–5.561], respectively) and new-onset AAU (HR [95% CI], 2.197 [1.325–3.642] and 3.717 [1.611–8.574], respectively). Conclusions: In Chinese patients with AS, patients with comorbidity of AAU and psoriasis had higher disease activity scores than patients without EAMs. Furthermore, the risk of AAU or combined EAMs increases with the duration of AS and appears to be associated with higher cumulative exposure to inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic disease that decreases mobility, function, and quality of life. This study introduced the "Smart-phone SpondyloArthritis Management System" (SpAMS), an interactive mobile health (mHealth) tool designed for AS/spondyloarthritis (SpA) disease management and used SpAMS data to evaluate clinical characteristics of Chinese patients with AS. Methods. SpAMS integrates patient's and physician's portals in a smart phone application. The Chinese Ankylosing Spondylitis Prospective Imaging Cohort was launched using SpAMS in April 2016. Patient self-assessments were completed online at baseline and at every subsequent clinic visit. Physician-reported assessments and treatments were recorded by rheumatologists during each visit. Results. In total, 1201 patients with AS [mean (SD) age, 30.6 (8.7) years; male, 82.6%] were recruited. Mean (SD) disease duration was 8.4 (6.1) years. Past or current symptoms of acute anterior uveitis (AAU), psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were observed in 21.0%, 3.7%, and 9.4% of patients, respectively. AAU and IBD occurred significantly more in patients with symptom duration > 10 years. The most commonly used medications at baseline were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (98.2%). Patients using tumour necrosis factor inhibitors accounted for 20.8%, and 66.4% of patients used conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. At baseline, 57.2% of patients had inactive disease (ID)/low disease activity (LDA); this rate significantly improved to 79.2% after a mean follow-up of 13.3 (5.9) months. Compared with relapsed patients, new achievers of ID/LDA underwent more online patient assessments (P < .001). Problems solved in SpAMS caused 29.1% of clinic visits to a tertiary hospital unnecessary. SpAMS saved an average of 5.3 hours and 327.4 RMB per person on traffic expenses; these expenses equalled 16% of the Chinese monthly disposable personal income. Conclusions. SpAMS is a time- and cost-saving disease management tool that can help patients with AS perform self-management and provide valuable data to clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]