Subclinical cardiovascular target organ damage manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis in young adult patients

Although it is known that ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with cardiovascular complications, the extent of these complications has not been clearly demonstrated in young adult patients. We have therefore investigated myocardial diastolic functions, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and aortic elastic properties of young adult patients diagnosed with AS. Sixty-six AS patients and 21 age/gender-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Spectral and tissue Doppler echocardiography, CIMT, aortic strain and distensibility, and serum B-type natriuretic peptide values were compared with disease activity indexes of AS, including the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and the role of other variables, such as anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-α) treatment, lipid parameters, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein. Both mitral early diastolic flow speed (mE) and late diastolic flow speed (mA) scores were lower among patients than among the control subjects (p = 0.015 and p = 0.035, respectively). The Em ratio of the patients was remarkably lower than that of the control subjects (p = 0.044). BASDAI scores of >4 were used to identify patients with more active disease. The mA and mE/mA ratios were significantly different between patients with a BASDAI score of >4 and those with a BASDAI score of