Characteristics of Ankylosing Spondylitis patients living in Qatar

Aim of the work

To study the clinical, laboratory and radiographic characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients living in Qatar.

Patients and methods

Sixty-two consecutive AS patients including 4 Qataris were enrolled. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and AS quality of life (ASQoL) scores were calculated. Inflammatory markers, human leukocytic antigen-B27 (HLA-B27), plain x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging of the sacroiliac joint and spine were considered.

Results

Mean age at symptom onset was 25.9 ± 7.3 years and at diagnosis 32.3 ± 8.4 years with an average delay in the diagnosis of 6.4 years. The male-to-female ratio was 5.2:1. Arabs comprised 40.3% while 59.7% were non-Arabs. HLA-B27 was positive in 80.7%. Family history of spondyloarthritis was present in 16 (25.8%) patients. All patients had inflammatory low back pain. Peripheral arthritis was observed in 46.8%, heel enthesitis in 37.1% and tenosynovitis in 14.5% patients. Anterior uveitis occurred in 14.5% patients. Radiological evidence of bilateral sacroiliitis and spine involvement was observed in 83.3% and 59.7% patients respectively. Mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were 20.3 ± 14.2 mm/hr and 11.4 ± 11.8 mg/L respectively. Mean BASDAI, BASFI and ASQoL were 3.3 ± 1.8, 2.9 ± 2.1 and 6.5 ± 5.2 respectively. Twenty-eight patients (45.2%) were maintained on NSAIDs monotherapy, 14.5% were receiving DMARDs and 40.3% were on biologics.

Conclusion

The characteristics of AS patients in Qatar are revealed. Similar to others, there is male predominance. Disease activity and functional status were found to be low which may be due to high frequency of patients receiving biologics.