| Abstract: | Purpose] The aim this study was to assess the relation between bone mineral density
(BMD) and mean platelet volume (MPV) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and evaluate
the diagnostic role of the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Subjects
and Methods] Fifty patients diagnosed with AS were divided into two groups on the basis of
BMD, a normal group (n=30) and an osteopenic (n=20) group. Results] Duration of disease
in the group with a normal BMD was 10.3±7.0 years, while it was 16.7±12.2 years in the
osteopenia group. MPV was high in the osteopenia group, while no significant differences
were observed between the groups in terms of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and
platelet distribution width (PDW). There was a positive correlation between MPV and
duration of disease. Correlations between ADC value and the lumbar T score, femoral neck T
score, and duration of disease were insignificant. A negative correlation was observed
between BMD and disease duration. Conclusion] Diffusion-weighted imaging provides
valuable results in osteoporosis but is not a suitable technique for evaluating BMD in
patients with AS because of the local and systemic inflammatory effects in the
musculoskeletal system. The common pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis
plays an important role in the negative correlation observed between MPV and BMD in
patients with AS.Key words: Ankylosing spondylitis, Bone mineral density, Mean platelet volume |
